‘That’s When Fights Break Out Among Guests.’ Universal Theme Park Engineer Gets Real About One Big Thing That’s Changed With Rides Over The Past Couple Of Decades

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Theme parks are meant to be fun, but planning and experiencing a trip can actually be quite stressful. Trying to fit everything in and stay within a budget can leave people feeling anxious. Plus, with everyone constantly recording, disagreements and even fights are becoming increasingly common in these parks.

Fights can break out for many reasons, but a recent report suggests theme parks themselves can contribute to the problem. Kevin Blakeney, a landscape architect involved in designing the new Epic Universe park, explained to The Atlantic that systems allowing guests to skip lines – by paying extra – can create tension and conflict. People waiting in regular lines often become frustrated watching others bypass them after paying a premium.

It’s really frustrating to watch the express line move fast while the standby line barely moves. That’s often when guests start arguing with each other.

As a movie buff, I can totally relate to the feeling – and it’s the same with theme parks! Honestly, nobody *likes* waiting in those endless lines, and a big part of any theme park visit seems to be just…waiting. It’s especially annoying when you see others breezing past you, skipping the queue. It just feels unfair, doesn’t it?

The lines at Epic Universe are cleverly designed so that guests waiting in the regular queue rarely cross paths with those using the Express Pass. The two lines mostly follow separate routes to the ride, which helps prevent congestion and confusion. I recently visited and noticed where the lines split, but I hadn’t thought much about why they did it that way until now.

It’s easy to see why people get frustrated with theme park costs. For a long time, it’s been said that parks like Disney, and increasingly Universal, are pricing out average families and focusing instead on guests who can afford luxury experiences.

Many people focus on ways to skip lines at theme parks. Universal’s Express Pass is a pricier option compared to a regular ticket. Disney’s Lightning Lane pass is relatively affordable, but doesn’t offer as much freedom. Disney also now has a very expensive Premier Pass for guests willing to spend a lot of money to avoid waiting in lines.

I’ve definitely paid extra to try and make our Disneyland trips easier. But it can be annoying, because it feels like you *have* to spend more money to actually enjoy the vacation you’re hoping for.

Knowing that the best experiences often come with a high price tag is different from actually seeing that divide firsthand. While keeping Express Pass holders separate might avoid conflicts, it doesn’t change the fact that a disparity exists.

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2025-09-16 21:08