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Universal Orlando Resort is once again at the center of a guest-related controversy, weeks after a tragic accident occurred at its newest theme park. The latest incident involves a visitor who says she was harassed for speaking Spanish while enjoying Universal Epic Universe.
Universal Epic Universe, the newest addition to the Central Florida vacation destination, opened in May. It features five themed lands: Celestial Park, SUPER NINTENDO WORLD, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic, Dark Universe, and How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk.
Credit: Universal
Less than four months after Universal Epic Universe opened, a tragedy occurred. On September 17, 2025, 32-year-old Kevin Rodriguez Zavala was found unresponsive on Stardust Racers, a roller coaster in Celestial Park. Investigators determined he died from multiple blunt force trauma injuries after blacking out during the ride.
Despite an ongoing legal battle between Universal Orlando Resort and Zavala’s family, Stardust Racers reopened on October 4, 2025. Following the tragedy, Universal updated boarding requirements for Stardust Racers and several attractions, including Dragon Racer’s Rally and Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment. Guests using mobility devices must now be able to walk a few steps independently to enter ride vehicles.
Credit: Universal
Just a few days ago, another controversy surfaced involving Universal Epic Universe. Instagram user @opinometromx shared a video showing a guest speaking Spanish while in line for Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge in SUPER NINTENDO WORLD. Another guest confronted her, yelling at her for speaking a language other than English.
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“Watch your f**king mouth,” the other guest yelled. “…You can’t even speak English, you f**king immigrant.”
It is not clear what led up to the confrontation or what happened after the video was filmed, and whether the offending guest faced any consequences from Universal team members.
Credit: Andrew Boardwine, Inside the Magic
Universal Orlando Resort encourages guests who encounter harassment to contact the nearest team member. Security can be paged to assist and de-escalate situations when necessary.
Have you visited Universal Orlando Resort since Epic Universe opened? Share your experience with Disney Tips in the comments!
