There’s a growing buzz among theme‑park fans: one guest, Nick Hustson, recently shared a frustrating experience at Universal Orlando Resort’s Epic Universe that’s shining a spotlight on how strict — and slow — security and locker policies have become. His claim? That policies are so rigid he was forced to remove his watch, spend extra time at lockers, and ultimately miss his ride photo.Credit: UniversalIn short: loves the park, but says the process is getting in the way of the fun.Here’s what we know now — what Nick experienced, how Universal has responded, and why other guests are starting to feel the same annoyance.What Nick Hustson ExperiencedNick posted his thoughts on X (formerly Twitter) after a recent visit. He says:The staff asked him to take off his watch before riding — a detail he found especially irksome, especially since he hadn’t been warned in advance.He was directed to a locker system that uses facial recognition technology. The lockers are secured this way: to open or close them, you scan your face (or ticket in some cases), then enter the ride’s queue, go through a metal detector, and afterwards, return to retrieve your belongings.In Nick’s view, there is too few camera/scanner stations for the number of lockers in the bay. He said that the line bottlenecks there slow everything down — so much so that, between storing his items, doing the security (metal detector), scanning, going through the locker process, he didn’t make it to the ride‐photo opportunity.As much as I love @UniversalORL – their locker policy needs to change. Being YELLED at by staff members that they’re “Stricter than the TSA” was not the vibe.What does one do with their medication if EVERYTHING has to go in the locker?Being made to take my watch off?!— Nick Hutson (@NickHutsonMusic) September 16, 2025Nick also said:“Being YELLED at by staff members that they’re ‘Stricter than the TSA’ was not the vibe.”“What does one do with their medication if EVERYTHING has to go in the locker? Being made to take my watch off?!”He continued:“At EU only having one camera scanner for however many lockers in a bay is ridiculous. I appreciate the tech behind it … but doesn’t speed the process up. By the time you’ve done all this — you’ve missed your ride photo!”“I know WHY they have their locker policy but it really does leave a sour mark on the day… take note from Europa Park or Disney and just allow bags on the ride or have double‐sided lockers on the platform.”So: his complaint is not with wanting safety or security. It’s about how much time and frustration the current system costs, and how much anticipation — especially for rides and photo moments — is lost.Policy Background: What Universal’s Locker & Security Rules AreCredit: Andrew Boardwine, Inside the MagicFrom publicly available information and guest reports, here’s how some of the locker and security setup works at Epic Universe — especially for rides like Stardust Racers, VelociCoaster, The Incredible Hulk Coaster, and other high‑thrill or no‑loose‑item rides:Before reaching the ride, you must store nearly all personal items (bags, phones, etc.) in a locker. Some smaller items may be allowed on certain rides, but policy is ride‑specific.The lockers in question are sometimes “ride‑lockers”: you use them only for the duration of the ride.The newer locker bays at Epic Universe often use facial recognition technology to open/close the lockers (instead of just scanning a ticket).Metal detectors may be used after locker storage, to make sure you’re not bringing any loose items or prohibited items onto the ride.There are concerns from guests that the number of scanning or camera stations for these facial‑recognition lockers is insufficient — leading to delays in locker bays.These policies are relatively new, and Epic Universe was built with modern technology, so expectations about speed, efficiency, and experience are high. But in practice, some of the new tech seems to be creating friction.Other Guests Weigh InNick isn’t alone. Replies on his post showed others felt similarly:One user said locker bottlenecks at major rides (for instance Gringotts in older Universal parks) are already bad, but at Epic Universe, the delay seems more frequent.Another expressed frustration over staff attitudes: feeling pressured, rushed, or even yelled at.Some mentioned that imposing the rule of “everything goes in the locker” makes it unclear what to do with medication or small valuables like watches, especially if no warnings are given ahead of the ride.A few guests also admitted the facial recognition lockers are smart in concept — no tickets lost, no needing to carry extra items — but in execution, they cause hold‑ups, especially when only one scanner works for dozens of lockers.Universal’s ResponseUniversal Orlando responded directly to Nick’s post. Their message:“Hi Nick, it’s never our intention to cause any sort of frustration, and we’re concerned to hear about your experience. Can you please send us a DM with more information about this, so we can properly document your feedback? Thank you.”That suggests the park is aware of at least some of the complaints and is willing to investigate Nick’s experience. But as of now, no changes have been formally announced.The Trade‑Off: Safety vs. Guest ConvenienceCredit: Andrew Boardwine, Inside the MagicThere’s a tension here that many theme‑park operations battle: how to balance guest safety and loss prevention against speed, convenience, and guest happiness.Reasons for the strict policies include:Preventing loose items (phones, watches, keys) from falling off high‑speed rides or coaster experience, which can injure people below or damage ride vehicles.Ensuring that prohibited items are not carried into sensitive ride mechanisms, or endangering others.Using tech like facial recognition to improve security, reduce ticket scanning mismatches, and cut down item loss.But the problems emerge when the result is long lines, delayed rides, photo moments missed, guests feeling shamed or yelled at, and time lost — especially for those trying to maximize their visit or get everything in.What Could Universal Do Differently?Nick suggested some potential improvements — and from other guests’ feedback, a few reasonable changes seem possible:Add more camera/scanner stations per locker bay so people aren’t all waiting at one.Allow watches, small valuables, or medication to stay on riders if they meet safety criteria. Perhaps with secure storage on the ride platform or under the seat.Rework locker layouts: double‑sided lockers (drop your things on one side, exit and retrieve from the opposite). That cuts backlog.Train staff on tone: ensure enforcement without rudeness. Clear signage ahead of rides warning guests what to expect so people come prepared.Clear guidelines for medical items or necessities so guests aren’t left helpless.Is It Ruining the Fun?From Nick Hustson’s experience, the answer is: it’s adding friction. A part of the excitement of going to a theme park is the ride, the moment, the photo, the memories. When bureaucracy, slow lines, or tech constraints make your ride photo be missed or your watch forcibly taken off, it chips away a bit of the magic.That said, Universal is not wrong to want safety and consistency. But guest feedback suggests that the balance might currently be off — with too much weight on “security” and not enough on “speed and guest comfort.”If Universal listens closely, tweaks the process, and gives guests clearer expectations (especially for rides like Stardust Racers that seem likely to require strong security and locker policies), they might avoid sour memories and maintain that “fun” vibe.Until then, people like Nick are going to keep posting, complaining, and hoping the next locker bay they come to doesn’t make them miss that one photo they really wanted.The post Suspension Warning: Watches Banned from Select Universal Attractions appeared first on Inside the Magic.