Universal Guest Has Hand Shoved in Face For Not Wearing a Mask Indoors

Exploring the theme park world as the pandemic continues to exist has been an interesting venture for Universal and Disney.

In Orlando, we have seen both Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando Resort go from heavy restrictions, limited capacity, social distancing, and mask mandates, to a much more normal form of operations as vaccinations for COVID-19, have become available and cases continue to drop.

Although Disney World revered their indoor mask mandate rule, making Guests wear masks while indoors, Universal just continues to suggest that Guests do so strongly. That being said, Guests are allowed not to wear a mask while indoors, and have been able to do so for months. Guests are, of course, welcome to continue wearing their masks while exploring Universal Orlando Resort, but they must understand that others can choose not to.

Lauren Kennon spoke with Inside the Magic to discuss an incident that happened when she visited Universal Orlando Resort last month. Kennon was staying at the Hard Rock Hotel at Universal Orlando when she attempted to enter the elevator without a mask on. Lauren reported that another Guest shoved their hand in her face and pushed past them as they were not allowed to ride with them since they were not masked.

I didn’t have my mask on and was trying to get on the elevator when this husband and wife hurried on, shoved their hand in my face and said my husband and I couldn’t ride with them because we didn’t have our mask or vaccinations.

Of course, it would be impossible to know if someone was vaccinated or not just by looking at them, so it seems that whoever did this made their own judgment based on the Guests not wearing a mask. Regardless of your feelings of mask mandates, it is important to understand that resulting to violence when another Guest is not breaking a rule is unacceptable, irrespective of how you feel about their choices.

Guests who still feel uncomfortable with others not wearing a mask while indoors at Universal Orlando Resort can do their best to stay away from others and social distance, but, since it is not required for Guests, there is no guarantee that you will be able to avoid all of the Guests around you.

Do you feel comfortable while other Guests do not wear a mask while indoors? Let us know in the comments below!