My Halloween Horror Nights Experience at Universal Studios

The answer is to Boycott Orlando all together. I have a web page up
with details of how the trespass warnings work. I'm the one who was
kicked out and then featured in the story that ran in the Orlando
Sun-Sentinel.

Regardless of the comebacks saying we deserve it, the City of Orlando
and Universal Orlando are going too far with their enforcement of said
laws.

What is very shocking is this has been going on for a long time, and
no one had the courage to make a web site and talk about it, until
now. There is no way to sue Universal to have the warnings rescinded
and get your money back for loss of tickets and annual passes. But we
can Boycott Orlando because it's the Orlando Police Department that is
behind all of this.

I have been to Orlando with my wife and 2 children at least 40 times
in the last 9 years, and while reading this letter there is only one
thing that comes to my mind in big bold letters: UNIVERSAL IS NOT
DISNEY...
Disney parks also have their ways of searching people and their
belongings for alcohool and other objects not allowed in the park, but
their security guards demonstrate a minimum of training, respect and
dignity, which is not the case with Universal at all. As unfortunate
as it is, this can be in part explained by the huge difference in
ticket price you pay to go to Universal Studios versus DisneyWorld.
Next time try Pleasure Island for your adult entertainment. Consider
the fact that you were banned for a year a favor they did to you to
remind you to never come back!

i am very sorry for the money you lost but the same thing happened to
my son .he was falsly accused of smoking pot after a surcurity gard
said he smelled pot .they took him in the back took his annual pass he
has had for years .told him he was not allowed back for a year.i
thought you were innocent untill proven guilty but notading at
universal .we have had season passes forever but now will have to
rethink buying them next year please post if you have had same problem
at universal also we want the trespass re
voked and apology fron universal .thanks for reading

My wife went over there for her bachelorrette party and the officers
harrassed and arrested her and a friend.... making false allugations
in their report. The officers were very aggressive and threw my wife
to the ground just because she questioned why they were arresting her
friend. We have to take this to court, and my wife who has never
been in trouble--- is facing serious charges.

WE ARE BOTH VERY UPSET WITH THE HARRASSING SECURITY AT CITY WALK...
this whole situation is ridiculous.

I know exactly where you are coming from!!!!
An incident at Citywalk ended up with a young man arrested for doing
nothing wrong other than to trying and prove he was innocent.
Some of the security guards are well out of order.You know what they
say when "you give a man a uniform".
He was wrongly accused of buying/supplying a young girl with alchohol,
he'd only just met her a short while before. She was the one with
alchohol "jello shot", he didn't have any, he wasn't anywhere near her
at the time, all the previous time he was with her and others, she had
not had any alchohol.(1 1/2 - 2 hours) They had no proof he bought or
supplied her with it. He didn't even know what was going on until a
guard took his I.D.details and issued him with a 12 month ban from all
Universal property. Everytime he asked what was happening the guard
said nothing, he was not drunk or rude, finally a Police Officer
explained what was happening and said the only thing to do was to try
and talk to the manager, to have the trespass order recinded. He tried
on the way out, but was told to "Go or he would be arrested".(At night
no manager there).He tried telephoning several times over the next few
days, spoke to some people asked for someone/manager to contact him,
telephone him back, left phone numbers. Is this the action of someone
who is guilty. No! He was trying to clear his name. Talk about "Guilty
before being proved innocent!" Nobody got back to him.
He finally decided to go to the Customer Services to try speak to
someone, a manager. Didn't attempt to go into Citywalk or any of the
parks without clearing his name. Whilst "pretending" to listen to his
side of the story, the Police had been called and he was arrested for
Trespassing, taken to Jail and everything "snowballed" from then.
Ongoing
There is really "no other side " to this story, where was their proof?
He still has no idea how he became involved even if it was the girl's
idea to include him? He never saw her again.

I think it's very significant that this happened to someone
considering a legal profession. Many times I feel that attorneys
haven't had to deal with corruption on an everyman level, but here, I
see that someone heading for a law career has. I think that's a
benefit for the rest of us.

Was there a reason you were charged with trespassing? Did I over look
something?

What do the guards-on-bikes do to check your drinks? Take a swig
themselves? Eew.

Sounds like you were caught on a bad day by a rent-a-cop on a bike
with no seat.

What,exactly,is illegal profiling?I was stopped once for a random
security check at the airport,but I didn't once think to make an issue
of it and call it illegal profiling...in fact,it wasn't a big deal and
took less than 5 minutes,and I was on my flight a half hour later,no
worse the wear.
The guard did have the right to search your possessions,because
Islands of Adventure is private property,just as airports and many
other public places are.
I really don't understand this letter......it would have taken about 5
minutes for the guard to check your drinks and then you could have
been on your merry way and probabaly had a great time at the park(I
have been there and it is awesome).
Get a grip on reality.

If you visit Universal so often why are you not aware of the rules and
regulations of not bringing drinks into the park Mr. Law Student?? My
bet is this is a partial rendition of what happened and if we talked
to any witnesses or the security guard we'd get a whole diffrent
story. Let me guess, next you'll be claiming it was racial
profiling??!

get a lawyer and sue them for damages. a good lawyer will see that
this is a strong case for compensation.

I agree that they were oversold, understaffed and created a dangerous
situation. Those of you poking FUN obviously have not been there. It
is easy to type smart comebacks, but try some empathy for humanity and
less for the mega-giant money-grubbing company.

My Halloween Horror Nights was an awful expierence also. Total chaos
and aggravation as soon as I paid the parking fee. Noone to guide cars
to parking spots, People on the top floor driving aggressivly in wrong
directions yelling at people. I witnessed an altercation in the
parking garage also. A woman was almost assaulted. After seperating
from my friend to go to customer service to get our tickets(i
purchased them online and was not able to print them)I left her to
find parking, it took another hour may I add. As I approached the
front gates, there were massive crowds of people pushing and shoving.
I did not think they were allowed to let soo many people in. I
purchased my tickets online a few days b4 hand and was under the
impression when they were sold out that was it, but no, they made an
exception, When u got to the gate if u wanted to get in they would let
any amount of people in as long as they paid an extrA 10 dollars.I
feel I might b getting a lil drawn out with this so ill speed it
up,Liquor booths everywhere , even in the lines.No juice or water
though, only beer. I was not able to get the heat exausted 13 year old
diabetic any juice or water .2 and 1/2 hours of waiting in line for a
haunted house. Just to b pushed and hurried through by employees. And
Underaged intoxicated minors flailing around screaming how wasted they
were( i witnessed that alot, several children)And to finish the night
off as i waited the 90 min wait for the Jason haunted house, There
were a group of intoxicated belingerate men cutting through the
lines.An altercation broke out when we kindly ask them not to cut in
front of us, just go behind us. They screamed at us, spit in my
friends face, and when we called security noone came, we couldnt
escape because there were sooo many people the lines were soo
croudedthere was no where to go. They started shoving us, We screamed
security more noone came. One of them started to swing at my
friend(whos a girl i may add) so she defended herself.Needless to say
we were brought back to the security section, had to file paperwork
patronized as I asked teary eyed, How can u let soo many people in the
park, drinking no less with no secutriy. Their response was 50,000
people 70 cops. Theres nothing we can do. So same as u we were banned
for a year, the woman that was spit on, the mother crying for security
as her daughter was swung at, the 13 year old diabetic who just stood
back and watched scared and me and my boyfriend who looked for a way
out of the crowds but there was nowhere to go.They also tried to
justify it by saying there were metal detectors in the entrance. That
we were safe, but as a nurse I know,It doesnt take a knife , or gun to
kill someone,with force and time u can beat someone to death.And i was
very scared.50,000 people, at the minimum of $60 a ticket, thats
3,000,000 dollars minimum universal brought in that night, not
counting express passes liquor, upgrades etc.And they would only pay
for 70 police officers, Might I add after a man was shot in the
parking lot during halloween horror night last year.Its criminal what
they can get away with.Dont get me wrong, I dont want to b a party
pooper, let them serve liquor if they want, All I ask is for safety
when i go to the theme parks. Im not allowed to go back for a year. To
tell u the truth I dont know if I ever will. Especially, Especially on
Halloween Horror Nights.

I'm sorry that you live in a world where you think that people are out
to get you. It's pretty sad that people like myself, put my life on
the line everyday, yet there are still people who do not like what I
do. I never said I have any proof about Florida, not being corrupt,
you were the one making statements, and you cannot back them up.
Obviously there is no changing your mind, and for that, I'm sorry for
how shallow you are, but one day my friend, you will need someone like
me, and we will come, and save your ass, and do it without a thanks,
and probably when dealing w/ someone like you, get a complaint,
because we were not there fast enough. So, go ahead, and have your
narrow minded views, but if your going to speak of all these problems
in Law Enforcement, then do something to change it. "Be the change
you wish to see in the world"

That is terrible for what happened to you. Good luck.

Hi,

I learn from your letter that you are studying Law. I think that is
fantastic. The problem is, from my friends who have studied law,
psychology (councelling and psychology), etc... is that since they are
learning such interesting things, they start applying it to their real
lives. My psychologist friend started psychoanalysing everyone and I
started feeling afraid of saying anything for what it might "reveal"
to my novice psychologist friend.

I think it is the same thing with you in a way. You are learning the
in's and out's of the law and you wanted to flex your "Legal Muscle"
and armed with your knowledge there was NO WAY you were going to let
the guard check your drink without 'just cause' or a warrant or
whatever.

Thing is, that just makes a little nuisance situation into a big
problem. Because YOU made a big stink about your pop, it behooved the
park to send you on your way (maybe they feared you'd be sue happy if
something negative happened during your stay at the park). Either
way, they decided they did not want you there, and that is their
right.

All in all, you have to choose your battles in this life, or you'll be
a very unhappy person.

I hope before you graduate law school you learn to spell merely.

I agree that the security guard was out of line. He should not have
even approached you unless you were giving him a reason to (like being
rowdy, playing loud music etc) And there is a time and a place to
stand up for yourself. However, this was not the time. You have to
choose your battles. It was unfortunate that you were kicked out, and
it was unfortunate that you werent refunded, but if you never entered
the power struggle with the (obnoxious) security guard this wouldnt
have happened.

I know its too late, but the best course of action (well... maybe not
the absolute best, but what i would do...) would be to just let him do
his thing, then speak to management about the ego-tripping security
guard.

I think you should be refunded, since you never entered the park. Its
a shame that security guards have nothing better to do then to push
people around and act like childish bullies.

What's right or wrong aside - if I had drove 7 hours I'd probably just
let him check the drink so I could just go on in to Universal Studios.
I wouldn't have liked it, and I'd probably think he was being a bit
overzealous, but I wouldn't want something so minor be the reason I
was banned.

Like others have said before me, I have to wonder if there's more to
this story, but we'll never really know. I'd be interested to see what
their response to this is.

How in the world does a person check a drink? Is there some kind of
test that they do?

Lemme give you some words of advice..

Life is very very simple.. don't complicate it!

The letter is well written (grammar wise) although there are several
inconsistancies in it. This all could have been avoided..had you
allowed the drinks to be searched. If you had nothing to hide, it
would have taken less than ONE minute of your time and you would have
enjoyed the rest of the day!

KISS!! ;) simplest way to live life ;)

While this is a well written and informative letter I have to comment
on one thing.

You are in law school and it shows. However, unless the guard said
something specifically about you being in college, your clothing or
the tag on your car, you are just ASSUMING you were profiled because
of that.

I would think that a law student as smart as you obivously are, would
know better than to do something like that and try to pass it off as
proof.

But I do think you do deserve to have your money refunded.

'I was meerly exercising my constitutional rights.' Well, Hot Dang!
Good for you. Your so-called 'exercise' got you tossed out for a
year.

This tome is filled with so many inconsistencies it's laughable. How
can your girlfriend and her family 'recently' become annual pass
holders 'for numerous years?'

Driving for seven hours? Isn't Florida State in Florida? I drove
from Tampa to Detroit in eight hours. What were you doing,
cross-crossing the state?

When you begin 'Once Upon A Time,' have all your made up facts laid
out in a straight row. That way you won't get tripped up. You might
also take a remedial English class--possibly as a second language?

Someone else might have already said this, but...

This was a security guard, no? Not a police officer.

You were on private property. You're right: you don't have to let
them search your drink. However, they have the right to have you
removed from their property.

Sorry, not a Constitutional issue.

Another law student. Now that's scary.

"A little learning is a dangerous thing; drink deep, or taste not the
Pierian spring: there shallow draughts intoxicate the brain, and
drinking largely sobers us again."

I'm just saying. Everyday I see attorneys who make me fear for my
profession. Thanks for taking care of the 10/17 quota. Even though
you're still in school, I worry. Maybe ConLaw will eventually sort
you out.

A lot of great opinions here in addition to a good letter. I'm a bit
torn on this, only because I think there may be some details we will
never know. I find it strange that he just approached you, but by your
own admission you were tired and probably came across as beligerant to
the guard which then caused him to toughen up with you.

Anyway if you hear back from them please let us know. I enjoyed
reading this thread :)

After having lived in Florida, the first thing I thought about when
seeing that this person was an FSU student is that the guard is a UF
fan=-) Obviously this is a theory, but UF and FSU is probably one of
the biggest college rivals. I could certainly see a cocky security
guard deciding that he was going to embarrass the OP in front of his
girlfriend and mess with his head. Instead, the OP didn't give in
when ASKED if the guard could search the drinks. If the guard had the
right to search the bottles, he should have worded things differently
"I will need to search your drinks prior to you entering the park."
He could also have explained that this was private property. Instead,
if things happened exactly the way the OP wrote about them, it's as if
the guard was looking for an excuse to throw them out. Most likely
the OP didn't handle things as well as he could have, although given
the circumstances as outlined here, I would have been a bit agitated
myself. I may have given in when asked to hand over the Sprite
bottles, although I would certainly not look ill upon someone who
didn't give in.

I think it is a shame that a person can't even walk across a parking
lot with a soda without being hassled by some "law enforcement
professional". I know several real police, and when you talk to them
off the record, so to speak,or take a citizen's academy class, you
will find that they can find "probable" cause to do just about
anything they want to as far as searching and traffic stops go. To
extend this power to rent-a cops is insane.

You had a hotel room and a girlfriend, yet you "had to pay additional
money to find something else to do that night"???? 80 bucks'
worth???

I think you need some imagination.

That aside--you did not benefit from your undergraduate education.
Your typing and grammar are atrocious. Before you go further at
Florida Law, you should find some basic grammar classes, and learn to
use SpellCheck.

I agree with others' opinions. There's quite a bit we're not hearing
here.

Profiling and Fourth Amendment aside, I think both you and the bike
cop behaved poorly. You are a young adult who acted like a spoiled
child and the bike cop is a professional that let his ego get in the
way of doing his job.

That's just my take based on this letter, since we won't ever know the
full story, that's all I've got.

This is a fine example that having a little bit of knowledge is a
terrible thing.

Fourth Amendment anaylsis, as noted below, doesn't come into play
because this is private property. Your admission ticket is a license
to use their facilities and it can be revoked at any time, at the
discretion of the licensor.

This is not the Mendenhall case. You clearly were free to decline the
search and there was no one forcing you to submit to a search. Sounds
to me like the bike officer asked you twice and both times you
declined.

If you want to use their facilities, you have to play by their rules.
The problem is that when you declined to submit to a search, they
opted to declined to let you in.

As for the profiling comment, if this were indeed a Fourth Amendment
analysis, I would direct you to the Whren case which held that
subjective considerations of the officer play no role in ordinary
fourth amendment analysis, provided the stop could be objectively
justified. In other words, it doesn't matter what you look like and
it doesn't matter if there was "profiling:.

Sometimes you have to pay for sticking to your principles. Was it
worth it?

Only a first year would beat his chest and proclaim to know all there
is to know of Constitutional rights while so blatantly misapplying the
Fourth Amendment.

You were on private property. Case law is well established that the
Fourth Amendment's protections against unreasonable searches and
seizures DO NOT apply to a private property and its security guards.
They restrict a governmental entity's actions. The park had the right
to inspect your drink while you were on its property. You chose to
cop an attitude instead of complying. Now you have found out that the
park also can bar you from its property.

That you now are proclaiming to be a law student will not cause the
park's executives to quiver in their shoes. It only will give the
attorneys for the park a nice chuckle when they read your letter. I
know I certainly had one.

I would like to clarify some elements of my mishap at halloween horror
nights. I was not driving reckless, acting biligerant, drinking in an
abnormal fashion, or giving any other indications of consuming
alcohol.

I am perfectly aware that Universal Resorts is private property, and
they have the right to create their own legal boundries as seen fit by
state and federal guidelines.

I was not out of line to the guard, but I am sure I was abrassive due
to enduring bumper to bumper traffic for seven hours.

I do notice that my writing gives off the impression that I am the
typical "Frat Boy/Rich Kid" that wears penny loafers and polos. I am
not arrogant in the least and I did not give off that vibe to the
security guard. I get zero money from my parents, and I work for
every single thing I have.

My big problem is that I was approached within three feet of getting
out of my car. I was planning on finishing my drink and throwing it
out in the trash can less than 20 feet away. The guard also
approached us in a very hostile manner. Of course I was mad, who
wouldn't be? If I was with a family, or if I was older this would not
happen. Second off, I do not want some security guard touching,
smelling, or breathing on my drink!

I also appologize for throwing around the words profiling and
stereotyping, I see how ridiculous that sounds, that's just how I felt
about the situation. I also brought up that I am in law school, not
to sound threatening, but to show that I am not some "dumb kid"
causing a scene, but a student that knows a little about my rights.

I find it difficult to believe you were banned for a year just for
this. Surely there is more to the story. You must have argued or
gotten upset or something!
Why didn't you just let the guard smell your drink? That would have
settled everything. We live in difficult times and security is
everywhere. I don't see that you were unduly targeted, after all the
security guard was already there. he didn't follow you.
Your college student knowledge of the law and threats of causing
monetary losses to Universal will not work. They don't scare that
easily. Banning two people from the park is serious business. They
will not rescind the ban just because of your family and friends.

The facts:

We are only hearing the OP's side of the story.

Millions of people visit Universal Studios every year and I'm sure
many of them enter the parking garage with open canned beverages.

If people were being banned for a year left and right because of false
allegations by the security staff, don't you think it would have been
all over the news and we would have heard more complaints? Universal
is in the business of making money and can only do so when people
enter the park, so the fact that this guy and his girlfriend were
escorted off the property puzzles me.

We'll never hear Universal's side of this story therefore it's
difficult to know what really happened.

However, all the OP's claims about constitutional rights, profiling,
probable cause, etc. lead me to believe that we need a whole lot more
information before taking sides on this one.

I now think the OP was in the wrong. I found this on
http://www.flexyourrights.org/node/9/print:

"Private Security Checks: Private security personnel have a right to
search you as a condition of entry into private property, for example.
It is up to the individual to decide if a search is worth the price of
admission. As long as you are free to walk away, the security
personnel do not pose a threat to your constitutional liberties."

The section also goes on to state: "And at the present time the Fourth
Amendment does not apply to searches carried out by non-governmental
employees like private security guards."

I have to agree with the OP in a few ways here. First I don't think
anyone had a right to search his drink IN A PARKING GARAGE! I could
see if they wre going through the turnstyles and were asked about the
contents...then the OP sould have gave in and be searched...but in a
parking garage for goodness sakes?? Having said that however,

I have a few questions myself for the OP if I may.

1. Were you consuming the beverages at time of questioning? I sk only
because if its a closed container and obviusly says soda or whatever
on it, then there is no probable cause for them to search.

2. If you were drinking the soda, were you acting in a way that the
officer might have suspected inebriation? Weer you driving recklessly
and whipped into the parking space on two wheels?

3. Are you SURE you and your girlfriend didnt do that so obnoxious eye
roll sigh and tounge click combination of disrespect? I know young
college kids, i was one myself a decade ago, we all get po'ed when the
"man" "hassles" us.

I'm with the OP on this one. Since when does anyone have the right to
search you in a parking lot?? I have been to Universal and have never
seen signs stating you may be searched. Had the guard been concerned
that they were under the influence he should have contacted the
police. He was a security guard and had no authority to arrest
anyone. Additionally, it isn't as if you leave the garage and walk
right into the park. You have City Walk to wander through and I would
think it is normal for people to bring drinks with them as they shop
and walk around there as it is quite large.

Dramatics aside, I agree with the OP. He was wrongfully searched.

I think you better drop out of your Law School bud. You were on
private property. Therefore, they can search your Sprite if they want
too! Every time I got to a sporting event, and take a drink w/ me,
and get searched, I don't whip out my badge, why, because it is their
rules! They were probably being reasonable, w/ you, until you got all
high and mighty w/ them. You prob. deserve what you got.

Seems to me you had a choice in this situation - - either simply let
the guard check your Sprite can or pull the "I'm a law student and
have constitutional rights and you are profiling me and my girlfriend
and in my opinion don't have probable cause". You chose the latter
and it obviously didn't work in your favor.

As other posters have said, there has to be more to this saga and I,
for one, would love to hear Universal's side of the story.

If you are truly a law student, then you already know that a company
is not going to open themselves up to charges of false imprisonment or
illegal search and seizure just to prove a point over some Sprites.

I have a hunch that there is more to this story, like the part where
you did or said something to the bik cop that got him ticked off
enough to ban you and cite you for trespassing.

Furthermore, as a law student, you should also know better than to
post details of a dispute for public review.

And the whole I'll tell 2 friends and they'll tell 2 friends bit?
That never works. Number one, you're probably only doing Universal a
favor by getting your friends not to go - at least they won't have to
deal with more college kids with attitudes.

And secondly , regardless of how much your family CLAIMS to spend at
Universal, it is a drop in the bucket in the grand scheme of things.
There are MILLIONS of people passing through their gates every year.
Believe me when I say, they won't miss you or your family's money.

Hmmmm....

I'm no lawyer (and I don't play one on T.V.), but from the way I
understand probable cause and reasonable suspicion, the OP MAY be in
the right here (but I'm only saying "may"). The way I understand PC
and RS is that there has to be reasonable suspicion that a crime has
been committed, which unless the OP was stumbling around acting drunk,
the guard didn't have grounds to search the OP.

My understanding though could be mitigated by other factors. Where's
LadyMac when you need her?

(By the way, I'm ignoring the whole
I'm-a-law-student-and-my-family-spends-thousands-of-dollars-at-your-pa
rk spiel. That really takes away from this letter.)

Since alcohol is not allowed, I believe they can check for it. Their
website says that certain items are not allowed in the park and that
bags, etc will be checked so actually the guard did have a right to
search your personal possessions.

The guard was doing his job. You did not cooperate and that is why you
and your gf were thrown out. Stupid college kids!

All you had to do was hand the guy your Sprite. It would have been
over in a minute. Instead you get into all this stereotyping and
profiling and emotional distress (give me a break) stuff. Since your
family has been such BIG SPENDERS I can't believe they didn't
recognize you immediately.

You can see how far your constitutional rights take you. Will they
help you get your money back? All you had to do was cooperate.
Instead you get to brag to everyone how you stood up for your rights.

I meerly hope they teach language and spelling in Florida State Law
Student Class for numerous of reasons. This would make a great lesson
for your fellow classmates, it could get you some brownie points with
the teacher as well!

::shakes my head::.. if you weren't difficult, it would have been
fine! But noooooooooo...