A Universal Orlando Resort guest sparked debate online this week after wearing a shirt that violated the theme park’s dress code. The mother claimed that security team members not only made her cover up the inappropriate shirt but also confiscated it before she could enter Universal Studios Florida, Universal CityWalk, or Universal Islands of Adventure.
Universal Orlando Resort’s dress code has received substantially less attention than Walt Disney World Resort’s, its competitor down the road. The Central Florida Disney park’s attire policies went viral in 2022 when a TikTok trend encouraged guests to intentionally violate the dress code to receive free shirts.
As more theme park guests attempted this “hack,” Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort tightened their policies on giving complimentary clothing to guests in violation of the dress code.
Years after the Disney dress code trend died down, Universal Orlando Resort’s attire policies caused a stir on social media. Conversations began this week when TikTok user @mommashive shared this video of herself at the Central Florida theme park’s security checkpoint:
@mommashive Apparently you cant wear @CHNGE shirts lol- also yes they FULLY took it away from me (i couldnt just put a jacket on top) #mommashive #universal #universalstudios #dresscode #dresscoded #disney #disneyworld #travelfamily
The guest was wearing a CHNGE tee that read “Women Don’t Owe You Shit.” She said Universal Orlando Resort security team members wouldn’t let her cover the $42 shirt up with a jacket, forcing her to surrender it or return it to her hotel if she wanted to enter. Instead of spending a chunk of her day traveling back to the resort and upsetting her children, she let go of the shirt.
“I could of went back to hotel and changed,” the theme park guest explained. “I have 3 kids and they would SCREAM if we had to leave- did what had to be done.”
Some Universal Orlando Resort fans chastised the mother for wearing a shirt with a swear word to a family-friendly theme park. The resort’s rules prohibit “clothing likely to incite a disturbance or display offensive language or content.”
“The shirt had a curse word on it,” @beachangel178 commented. “Anyone that thinks thats okay in public is nuts.”
“It’s a family environment,” @stephdvdb agreed.
Still, others thought the guest should’ve been allowed in.
“It’s a curse word,” @its_the_gay_falon argued. “Who cares like it’s not that offensive.”
“They wouldn’t be taking my shirt..,” said @brittanyshae59.
Some commenters even said they’d successfully challenged Universal Orlando Resort security team members over the resort’s dress code policies. From @beautifullyannette:
“I had a F^ this I’m going to Hogwarts shirt and as soon as the started to dress code me a teenage girl walked by with ripped shorts that literally were ripped at her bottom and I said ‘Oh my shirt is offensive but that’s allowed’ she called her higher up and he said I was good but if I got stopped inside I would have get a new shirt. I never got stopped everyone loved my shirt!”
Have you ever been issued a dress code violation at Universal Studios Florida or Universal Islands of Adventure? Share your experience with Inside the Magic in the comments.