Carrying Concealed Firearm at Universal Studios, Orlando, FL

Universal Studios Gun Policy

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I am writing this after spending the weekend at Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida.  During our time at Universal Studios, I conceal carried a Smith & Wesson M&P Shield in a Mike’s Holster in the small of my back without any problems.  I’m writing this blog post about carrying concealed at Universal Studios because I think its important to carry at all times – even when going to a theme park.

Carrying Concealed in Universal Studios Orlando Tip #1: You have a 2nd Amendment right to carry on private property in Florida. The law is on your side.

Universal Studios has an anti-gun policy.

HOWEVER:

You have a 2nd Ammendment right to keep and bear arms, and with a concealed carry permit here in Florida, you have the right to carry a concealed firearm in all public places not associated with the government. Here in Florida, you can legally concealed carry anywhere except:

  • Government buildings (post offices, court houses, DMV, ect)
  • Hospitals
  • Schools
  • Nuclear plants
  • Anywhere that ONLY serves alcohol

That said, Universal Studios here in Orlando has a “no weapons” policy.  They don’t want knives, guns, clubs, mace, or any other weapon anywhere in your possession at any time.

Florida law says otherwise.

If you choose to carry a concealed firearm at Universal Studios, you are not breaking any Florida state or federal laws.  If they ask you to leave, however, and you do not leave, you are then tresspassing with a firearm which means up to a year in prison and possibly a $5000 fine.

Duh, the idea is CONCEALED carry – not “half ass” concealed carry. Don’t let anyone see or know you are carrying a firearm unless there’s an emergency.

Carrying Concealed in Universal Studios Orlando Tip #2: You SHOULD carry at Universal because its a terrorist’s wet dream.

I was in Universal for two days and I did not see a SINGLE armed security officer or police officer.  Carrying a concealed firearm in Universal Studios Orlando could save your life, your family’s lives, or other lives.  Its a terrorist’s wet dream.

There has never been an active shooter situation or terrorist attack at Universal Studios in Orlando, but I’m not sure why there hasn’t been.  Supposedly there are cops everywhere, but I didn’t see a single one!

I asked a security officer why I didn’t see any cops or security guards with guns or firearms of any sort, and she said;

“Security here is priority. We have 470 security guards on staff who do not carry firearms, however, the undercover police officers who work here are always around. The number of armed undercover police officers far outweigh the number of security staff at all times.  You would walk by them and never even know it. They could be just a couple walking into a shop or a person sweeping up trash.”

Is that true?

I have no idea. All I know is that I did not see a single armed police officer or security guard – anywhere.

If I didn’t see an single one, then I’m sure terrorists or nut jobs don’t see them anywhere – and that’s exactly why you NEED to carry a concealed firearm at Universal Studios in Orlando.   Be prepared and well trained in the case of an emergency – saving lives is your responsibility.

Carrying Concealed in Universal Studios Orlando Tip #3: There are no metal detectors upon entrance.

When we walked into Universal Studios in Orlando, I was very surprised at how easy it was to carry. Security only looks in your bags, backpacks, and purses – and they don’t even do a very thorough job. All they do is look for big bottles of alcohol.

Security at Universal Studios in Orlando did not search my person in any way, shape, or form.

That said, if you carry concealed on your person, you’ll be fine, but don’t try to carry a firearm in a purse, backpack, or fanny pack. In fact, throw your fanny pack away. You look gay. 🙂

I’ve heard that on Halloween Horror nights they do metal detect people – but I’m not sure if that was true or not.

Carrying Concealed in Universal Studios Orlando Tip #4: For the love of God, do NOT DRINK while carrying!

I hope this goes without saying.

Universal Studios is a fun, family-friendly atmosphere with plenty of activities for the whole family – including the adults.  There is more than enough alcohol to go around.

I would hope that when you’re carrying concealed you would not be drinking anyway – drink and guns don’t mix, especially if you are in a situation with that many people around.  DO NOT DRINK.

Could you imagine what would happen if you were drinking and some guy at the bar got too rowdy with you?  You would both probably be expelled from the park – even if you didn’t do anything wrong – and you could get charged with drinking while carrying a concealed firearm. Remember that the legal limit for drinking while carrying is 0.02%.

Carrying Concealed in Universal Studios Orlando Tip #5: Carry your concealed firearm in a holster that it won’t fall out while you’re upside down.

Do I need to even mention this?

Universal Studios has rides – roller coasters, cinemas, and other rides. Don’t let your gun fall out, or you could be in big trouble (not to mention that none of your friends would ever let you live that down!)

Carrying Concealed in Universal Studios Orlando Tip #6: Leave Universal Studios immediately if you’re asked to leave for any reason.

While the law is on your side, and you can legally carry at Universal Studios in Orlando, if you’re asked to leave and you don’t leave, you’re now trespassing. Trespassing in Florida is a felony – don’t do it.

 

Carrying Concealed in Universal Studios Orlando Tip #7: HAVE FUN!

Universal Studios Gun Policy

 

 

34 Comments

  1. Thank you for this. My family is going this summer (I’m an NRA Instructor and SC CWP holder & my husband is a police officer) & any time we leave the house at least one of us is carrying (currently not legal for me to carry in a restaurant that serves alcohol though…even if I’m not drinking).

  2. I’m sorry to disagree with you on this matter. Although I do hold a CCW. It is posted on the entrence portal at Universal that no knifes or firearms are allowed on property. Universal is private property and do have the right to ask the guests no to carry.
    It is no different then walking into someones house and they ask you not to have a gun in the house.
    You always have the option of not going in if you are so inclined.

    I understand your concern about carrying, but the law is the law

    • Yes they ask you not to, but “No Guns” signs like that do not have force of law in Florida, until they ask you to leave the premises you are not breaking any laws.

    • The law is the law? The law states it’s allowed. The “rules” of Universal state otherwise, but the laws allow it. Just throwing that out there…

    • Alan, you may disagree all you want, but the fact that Universal posts signs prohibiting CCW on their premises does not create a new law. If you are found to be carrying a weapon on their grounds, there are no legal ramifications for you: they may only require you to leave. No officer can arrest you for violating their policy and no charges can be filed against you. It is your right to politely abide by their wishes, but legally you are not required to do so. As stated above, it IS illegal to remain on private property after being told to leave. Only at that point would any law be broken.

      • As a former employee and CWP holder, I thought the same thing to: that the 2nd Amendment supersedes Universal Orlando policy of “no knives or guns.” However, the 2nd Amendment becomes null and void when (this is what I didn’t know until I was told) you take into account that Universal Orlando has internships, and legitimate classes are held on property. While it’s not much, the theme park then becomes a theme park *and* a school/learning environment, which, as you all have stated, makes all CWPs utterly useless. There was a case a few years back when a Disney World (Orlando) security officer had a CWP and his handgun was locked in the glove compartment of his car. I don’t remember the exact specifics, but he was fired too because of something along the lines of “there are fireworks a.k.a. explosives.” Don’t hold me to that one, though.

        • Incorrect. Holding classes does not make Universal a school under law. Schools are defined in FS 790.115 as “preschool, elementary school, middle school, junior high school, secondary school, career center, or postsecondary school, whether public or nonpublic.” Universal is none of these.

  3. BTW, if putting up a sign makes something illegal or legal, I could place a sign saying that, while on my property, it is a felony to refer to Alan as anything other than “girly-man.”

  4. Thank you very much for this. We were invited to Universal Studios tomorrow by my wife’s employer and I was wondering about the metal detectors. I carry everywhere, because the consequences of not having a gun if you need it are potentially far worse than the consequences of getting caught with one where it is prohibited, but metal detectors would have been a problem, because I also carry knives. I’m not going to trust my family’s safety to a bunch of unarmed security guards.

  5. Carried tonight into Unversal….not an issue carrying past security – although they tore my wife’s purse apart!

    But when I got to the Hard Rock Live entrance, there were metal detectors all over the place. I approached the checkin in guy and told him I was a legal CCW holder. He said no entrance past that point. I asked if there were lockers nearby…checked my gun into a locker, went to the show and retrieved it immediately after.

    No issues for the rest of the night….

  6. I also have a ccw permit in Fl. and I feel that it is my responsibility to ensure my families safety. If an establishment doesn’t want me to carry my LEGAL weapon on their property, they don’t and won’t get my business. Their loss, not mine. There are plenty of other things to do.

  7. I totally agree. I don’t see why business owners feel they can create a policy that violates not only state law, our 2nd amm rights and our human rights to privacy. So if we go with that logic that establishment could create a policy after entering that you will be strip searched and your kids sold as slaves. That would be the same, it would violate the law and of the land.

  8. the math question stumped me: 2 − one =
    had to ask my seven year old …
    anyway, carried today and my bag was searched. someone said only because it was after 8:00pm … The point is, they didn’t find it. I was happy for a moment – then I realized that if they couldn’t find a 9mm Ruger in a small canvas shoulder bag in the front zipper pocket … then ‘anyone’ (can you see where I’m going with this)

  9. I find it hard to believe if they have 470 security guards that there are more police officers than security, off duty or on. Especially with all the other parks that hire cops. I just don’t think there’s that many cops working details.

  10. Tip #4 is incorrect. The author states, “…and you could get charged with drinking while carrying a concealed firearm.”

    FS 790.151 makes it unlawful to USE a firearm while intoxicated.

    (1) As used in ss. 790.151-790.157, to “use a firearm” means to discharge a firearm or to have a firearm readily accessible for immediate discharge.
    (2) For the purposes of this section, “readily accessible for immediate discharge” means loaded and in a person’s hand.

    Therefore one can legally carry a holstered firearm while intoxicated, so long as it is not handled for any reason other than lawful self-defense.

  11. This article is outdated but much of it holds true still. A few things though…

    -Metal detectors have been added at some of the coaster entrances. Those rides have free lockers but they are attended by staff frequently. Therefore you will not be able to discreetly disarm.

    -Tip #4 gives false info. There is no law stating a legal intoxication limit in the state of FL while carrying. The only law that exists is 790.151 which states it is illegal to hold (in you hand) or discharge a firearm while intoxicated unless it is in lawful self defense.

    -Halloween horror nights and other events (Gay days, Grad bash, etc.) do use metal detectors.

    -To the commenter that said Universal is a campus so CCWs are invalidated, not true at all. It is not a state-accredited K-12 school.

    – As far as the Disney employee fired, that is true. Disney has a state-issued exemption to the “firearms in your car” law due to the amount of pyrotechnics on the property. Multiple employees have been terminated due to it, but that has nothing to do with CCW permits at all.

  12. I call B.S if you get caught you may be arrested but I guarantee you will be trespassed. Private property means just that and the owners have a legal right to set forth rules and policies. Disney will have you arrested even if you are a LEO. Don’t carry in a theme park it wont end well if they find out

  13. Sadly, is not A enforceable restriction. I worked in the security department at Universal Orlando. They used to tell us that weapons were prohibited on property due to the school being there, they teach high schoolers academics and teach them job skills by working in the park. It is a fairly large operation with the school being there multiple trailers etc with classrooms. I don’t believe that T2 or the pyro technics would play into their reasoning for banning weapons. The sad reality, and the harsh reality of big business is their ability to institute rules while being on the private property. Companies consider their land private, and as such believe they can enforce any rules to protect person, property, or life. Universal operates on the same system Disney does, try to limit as much as possible coming in weapon wise. Trespassing warnings and/or threats are the tools of the trade in the business.

  14. Just curious if anything has changed recently? I’m visiting and don’t care to leave my weapon locked in a safe in my room if I don’t have to

  15. I just went to Universal 3/27/16 and You now have your bags checked and go through a metal detector to even enter city-walk! There are also multiple rides that will make you go through a metal detector again before riding.

  16. Not long after the December 2015 San Bernardino attack, anyone entering Universal (actually CityWalk) has to go through metal detectors. They use the stand up detectors and then hand held scanners to investigate any detection when walking through the detectors.

    Bag checks are a joke (they look in your bag, and move things around with a stick, as to not touch anything), however the other day (April 2016) they had one single conveyor belt xray scanner. Don’t know if that is for special cases or to test its feasibility, to expand its usage.

    Side note: all central Florida theme parks, now have metal detectors.

  17. They have metal detectors through out the park now there is no way to conceal carry even employees must go through these medal detectors. I am a former employee as of Feb 2016, once again leave it in your vehicle when you park in the parking garage.

  18. Just took the shuttle back to the hotel to leave my gun in the room. Being an off duty police officer, I went the extra mile and asked a uniformed police officer the policy on off duty law enforcement officers carrying in the park and there are no exceptions for off duty officers either. He said that security has been beefed up in the past 4-5 months adding metal detectors as well to the front gate. Save yourself the time leave it in the car or hotel.

  19. No dice. No weapons at all. Just got turned away for carrying a 2 1/2 ” folding knife. Walked through metal detectors and bag searched. I’m here on Black Friday 2016.

  20. No weapons at all. Just got turned away for carrying my folding knife that’s 2 1/2″. Was told to return it to the car. Had to go through metal detectors and got my bag searched. Was here on Black Friday 2016

  21. Went during Halloween Horror Nights, metal detectors were used, they threw away my credit card knife in my wallet. They offered for me to just go put it in my car, wasn’t worth walking back. (FYI this INCLUDES City Walk. Not just for the parks themselves. Security point is in the middle that joins Islands of Adventure, City Walk and Universal Studios.)

  22. In my opinion businesses shouldn’t uphold a no weapons policy anymore than upholding a no black or jew policy. Constitutional right I’d just that. Doesn’t matter what is being protected.

  23. If you can’t leave your house to goto a Theme Park without carrying a gun and putting peoples lives at risk then STAY IN DOORS in your cocoon. The amount of guns discharged while idiots just pulling up their pants now imagine being on a thrill ride being shook around. Gun owners seem to be mentally ill people if they follow any of this garbage. Also metal detectors are at the gates of rolloer coasters so good luck. Seriously just stay indoors in your GOP land of fear and let everyone else who aren’t whining cowards enjoy life without morons playing wanna be cop where ever they go.

    • You just keep on sleeping Derek. It’s people that believe exactly what you believe who are the murdeous villains of today’s society. Go ahead, wish hate and discontent upon me and prove my point.

  24. Mr. Derek
    First of all.. why would you think law abiding citizens that carry would put peoples lives at risk?? and NO.. GUN OWNERS ARE NOT MENTALLY ILL PEOPLE!! Good luck to you when all hell breaks loose as your riding that thriller ride.. JS!! WAKE UP TO REALITY MAN!!

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