Credit: UniversalSomething troubling is bubbling up at Epic Universe, and guests are starting to speak out loudly about it. Less than five months after its grand opening, alarming health concerns are spiking throughout the park. Visitors are taking to social media to warn others about what they’ve witnessed—and in some cases, experienced firsthand. What should have been Universal’s biggest triumph in years is already facing some very real problems.
Guests aren’t just complaining about long wait times or pricey souvenirs this time. They’re begging Universal Orlando Resort to step in and fix an issue that could have lasting consequences if it isn’t addressed quickly. And while it centers on one specific area, the situation reflects the growing pains that can accompany launching a massive, brand-new theme park.
Universal’s Other Parks Don’t Face This Same Problem
Before we dive into what’s happening at Epic Universe, it’s worth noting that Universal isn’t new to running theme parks. Universal Islands of Adventure, Universal Studios Florida, and Universal Volcano Bay have consistently proven themselves to be smooth, well-oiled machines in terms of operations.
Sure, there are the occasional operational hiccups—every park has them—but major health scares aren’t everyday occurrences at these established destinations. Over the years, Universal has fine-tuned everything from crowd control to water and sanitation. These parks know how to handle Florida heat and large summer crowds without creating an environment where illnesses can spread easily.
That’s part of why this current situation feels so alarming to regular visitors. People expect the same standards across all Universal parks, but Epic Universe is still new—and clearly still finding its footing.
A Brand-New Park Still Learning the Ropes
Epic Universe opened its gates in May 2025 to enormous fanfare. The park instantly became one of the hottest destinations in Orlando, drawing massive crowds eager to explore its stunning themed lands.
From the intricate detail of SUPER NINTENDO WORLD to the spellbinding atmosphere of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic, Universal created something that felt both cinematic and immersive.
But with any park of this scale, growing pains are inevitable. There are operational lessons that can only be learned once guests arrive in droves. Sometimes it’s ride capacity. Sometimes it’s food service flow. And sometimes, as we’re now seeing, it’s a sanitation issue that simply didn’t appear during test runs or previews.
This particular issue isn’t happening inside an attraction or restaurant. It’s happening in plain sight, in one of the most popular lands in the park.
The Center of the Chaos
How to Train Your Dragon: Isle of Berk is one of the crown jewels of Epic Universe. It’s a vibrant, living land based on the beloved DreamWorks franchise, full of interactive experiences, towering set pieces, and family-friendly adventures. The entire area immerses guests in the world of Vikings and dragons, bringing the island of Berk to life with impressive scale and detail.
This land is home to one of the park’s most talked-about attractions: a family-friendly roller coaster that weaves in and out of dragon-themed scenery. There’s also a massive lagoon, meet-and-greets with dragons, and plenty of interactive elements scattered throughout. It’s a land designed to keep kids engaged and families lingering.
But one section of the Isle of Berk is drawing the wrong kind of attention.
Viking Training Camp: Playful Fun Meets a Brewing Problem
Viking Training Camp is a large playground area packed with interactive elements. Here, kids can climb, explore, and “train” like Vikings. There are drums to bang on, climbing towers to conquer, slides to race down, and even a fan-favorite sheep launcher game that gets guests laughing.
The playground is meant to be a fun, hands-on space for families to burn off some energy in between rides. But right next to all this high-energy fun is something that’s quickly becoming one of the park’s most significant health concerns—a massive decorative fountain that many guests are treating like a personal water station.
The Fountain That’s Causing Health Concerns
This massive fountain is supposed to serve as a scenic element—a place where guests can sit nearby, cool off in the shade, and enjoy a brief break from the Florida sun. But in practice, it’s becoming something much worse.
Guests have reported seeing other visitors using the fountain water to splash their faces, rinse their hands, and, even more troubling, drink from it. Some have allegedly gone so far as to fill their reusable water bottles with fountain water. Others have been seen dunking their heads in the basin to cool off.
Videos and photos of this behavior have been circulating online, with many calling it “gross” and “a health hazard waiting to happen.” Given how many people are interacting with the same standing water in the middle of a busy theme park, it’s easy to see why.
Why This Is So Unsanitary
Unlike designated refill stations or water fountains, this decorative water feature isn’t meant for human contact—especially not drinking. The water may be treated to keep it from becoming stagnant, but it isn’t filtered or sanitized in a way that makes it safe to consume.
When hundreds of people come into contact with the same water throughout the day, bacteria and germs can easily accumulate. Combine that with Florida’s heat and a steady stream of sweaty hands and faces, and it becomes a recipe for trouble.
Health experts often warn against drinking or splashing decorative fountain water, as it can contain contaminants or pathogens that lead to gastrointestinal issues and other illnesses. The fact that this is happening in a busy theme park makes it all the more concerning.
What Universal Should Do Next
Universal likely didn’t anticipate the fountain becoming a makeshift hydration station—but now that it has, it’s time to act fast. The most obvious solution is to install clear signage around the fountain: “Do Not Drink” and “Do Not Touch Water.” Even a few visible warnings can deter guests from engaging in risky behavior.
Beyond signage, adding more official refill stations or freestyle drink machines throughout the Isle of Berk could reduce the temptation to use the fountain in the first place. When guests have easy access to safe drinking water, they’re far less likely to resort to questionable sources.
Other parks have addressed similar issues by installing bottle refill stations in high-traffic areas, and this solution makes perfect sense here as well.
A Teachable Moment for a Brand-New Park
Epic Universe is still in its first year, and bumps in the road are inevitable. However, this particular issue involves guest health, which necessitates its treatment as a priority. Universal has already proven it can run clean, safe, and efficient parks with Islands of Adventure, Studios, and Volcano Bay. Applying those same operational standards here is critical.
As more guests voice their concerns online, Universal has an opportunity to respond quickly and effectively—before these reports turn into something worse. Installing proper signage and adding accessible hydration options might seem like a minor fix, but it can prevent a much bigger problem down the line.
For now, visitors would be wise to stick to official water fountains and refill stations—and avoid that tempting but unsanitary fountain at Isle of Berk. Five months in, Epic Universe is already learning some hard lessons. How quickly Universal acts next could determine the extent of this health scare.