• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

The K-Var ArmoryThe K-Var Armory

The Largest Supplier of Firearms, Gun Parts, & Accessories Online

  • Shop K-Var
  • News
    • Industry
    • Politics
    • Second Amendment
    • Self Defense
    • Comics
  • Reviews
    • Anything AK
    • Anything AR
    • Gear
    • Pistols
    • Rifles
    • Shotguns
  • Newsletter

Firearms at Theme Parks — Universal

August 23, 2019 by John Bibby 1 Comment

I recently spent two weeks vacationing in Orlando. Orlando is a fairly gun friendly city, in a mostly gun friendly state. However, a huge asterisk must be applied when you are dealing with the theme parks. Let’s just say they are NOT gun friendly—at all.

I figured out a way to minimize the risks of being on a theme park vacation. My technique was not perfect, but it did reduce the risk to only when I was in the theme park, itself. Bottom line, most of the theme parks realize there are police officers whose agencies force them to be armed at all times as a parameter of employment. With those officers in mind, they have storage lockers in the security area where they house the firearms of visitors. Of course, this means you are unarmed in the park. It also means you are NOT disarmed from the time you leave the hotel, until the time you return to the hotel.

Man holding a gun with Mickey Mouse as the shadow for theme parks
Let’s just say that most amusement parks are NOT gun friendly. However, Universal is at least making an effort.

I cannot confirm any of the other parks have equal facilities or policies, but I do know that Universal Orlando (all three of their parks) does. The way their policy works, find a security guard and explain to them you need to utilize one of their firearms lockers. That security guard (with a silver badge) will radio for a Sergeant (gold badge) to come assist. The Sergeant will ask you half a dozen questions, then guide you over to the video monitor center.

They will enter without you and confirm the door to the monitor room is secure, then invite you in. At that time, they will have you put your firearm and any other prohibited items in a locker. Pocket knives of ANY size are forbidden, but I was allowed to keep my tourniquets and (blunt nosed) trauma shears. The locker has exactly one key. You will be in possession of the key and if lost, you will pay $150+ for a locksmith to drill out the lock.

I did this for the entire five days we spent at Universal Parks. Day one, was a bit awkward as I did not know the process. Day two, was a bit weird as they made me surrender my knife to be stored separately in their “big” safe. I was given a claim check for that and a plain clothes security officer (recently retired local Sheriff Deputy) gave me the “civilians should not be allowed to own guns” speech. Even the uniformed security guard rolled her eyes at that.

Day three, was a complete cluster, as when I offered to leave my firearm at the normal entrance, they said no. I was told Volcano Bay (the Universal Studio water park) had separate facilities and it would be easier to do there. After several phone calls by security, I gathered an escort detail of NINE security people and with guidance from me, it was all worked out. Day four, was much easier, as I dealt with two of the security people who had assisted on the previous day. Day five was super smooth as I got the woman from day two and she was as efficient and professional as she had been at our first meeting. It helped that Mr. “civilians shouldn’t own guns” wasn’t there to interfere.

All-in-all it was a hassle, but worth it. It cost me between 10 and 30 minutes on the way in and roughly 5 minutes on the way out. Their security is better than just theater, but it isn’t what I would call tight. I can say with 100% certainty, I could have gotten my firearm into Volcano Bay. The original guard I approached at an overflow entrance was so completely distracted by my request, someone riding an elephant could have walked past him without comment. There were also zero cameras at that location for back up. The main entrance to the other parks had cameras everywhere, so getting past a guard in a similar manner would have been more difficult.

The metal detector and X-ray process is acceptable; but twice my belt buckle triggered the alarm, on three occasions it did not. I am also fairly certain a TSA Personal defense pen would easily make it through security, just like it does at the airport. I didn’t bring one, so I don’t know for sure. I would say next time, but there won’t be a next time for me with Universal. I am not much of a theme park person to start with and the big draw, Harry Potter does very little for me.

Bottom line, I am not Law Enforcement nor did I claim to be. There was only one truly sour apple in my five days. There was one day of complete confusion as to (their own) policy, but it was worked out. I was able to reduce my vulnerable time to just park time. The process of securing and recovering my firearm was a fairly simple and straight forward process, every time.

Now you know an option you may not have known in the past. Hope it helps.

In all fairness, a ride that shakes you around and spins you upside is not the best place to carry concealed. Rather than banning things altogether, Universal seems to be trying. Do you think it is enough or too little? Share your answers in the comment section.


Sign up for K-Var’s weekly newsletter and discounts here.

Filed Under: How To, Self Defense Tagged With: Concealed Carry, Universal Orlando

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Docduracoat says

    August 26, 2019 at 5:01 pm

    It’s their park, so it’s their rules.
    At least they have guards, metal detectors, and cameras so criminals can’t just waltz in while law abiding citizens follow the rules.
    It seems to me that every gun free zone should have the same kind of security if they’re going to prevent me from carrying my self-defense weapon.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *


The reCAPTCHA verification period has expired. Please reload the page.

Primary Sidebar

Subscribe to the Muzzle Flash – The K-Var Armory Official Newsletter!

* Required field
Marketing permission: I give my consent to to be in touch with me via email using the information I have provided in this form for the purpose of news, updates and marketing.

Recent Posts

  • Circle 10 “Waffle Pattern” 30-round Magazine: As Good As it Gets
  • The LF308 Battle Rifle AR-10
  • Long Range Shooting 3
  • K-Var’s 180-Day Layaway Program: Own Your Dream Firearm, Interest-Free!
  • Inside FAIR: Why Arsenal Inc. Supports the Trade Group That Keeps Our Industry on Track
Gun Broker Auctions

Archives

  • May 2025
  • April 2025
  • March 2025
  • February 2025
  • January 2025
  • December 2024
  • November 2024
  • October 2024
  • September 2024
  • August 2024
  • July 2024
  • April 2024
  • March 2024
  • February 2024
  • January 2024
  • December 2023
  • November 2023
  • October 2023
  • September 2023
  • August 2023
  • July 2023
  • June 2023
  • May 2023
  • April 2023
  • March 2023
  • February 2023
  • January 2023
  • December 2022
  • November 2022
  • October 2022
  • September 2022
  • August 2022
  • July 2022
  • June 2022
  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021
  • June 2021
  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017

Categories

  • 1911
  • Accessories
  • Ammunition
  • Anything AK
  • Anything AR
  • Arex
  • Arsenal
  • Blades
  • Browning
  • Cartridges
  • Charter Arms
  • Colt
  • Comics
  • Conservation
  • Dan Wesson
  • Deer
  • Derringer
  • Gear
  • Glock
  • Hearing Protection
  • Holsters
  • How To
  • How-To
  • Hunting
  • Industry
  • Kahr
  • Kel-Tec
  • Lasers
  • News
  • NFA
  • Night Vision
  • North American Arms
  • Op-ed
  • Optics
  • Optics
  • Pistols
  • Politics
  • Predator
  • Product Recall Notice
  • Red Dot
  • Reloading
  • Reviews
  • Revolvers
  • Rifles
  • Rimfire
  • Rock Island Armory
  • Rossi
  • Ruger
  • Ruger
  • Savage
  • Second Amendment
  • Self Defense
  • Shotguns
  • SIG Sauer
  • Small Game
  • Smith and Wesson
  • Springfield
  • Tactics
  • Taurus
  • Thermal
  • Turkey
  • Uncategorized
  • Video
  • Walther
  • Waterfowling
  • Comics
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms
  • About
  • Newsletter

Copyright © 2025 · K-Var Corp · Log in