ORLANDO, Fla. – Guests arriving at Universal Orlando Monday said they were surprised to find out they were no longer allowed to bring bottled water inside the park.
The new rule went into effect Monday morning without warning.
The park's security team helped guests throw away their bottles of water before entering the park -- a process that created a long wait at the security gate.
"Today, watching people get theirs out of their bags and thrown in bins -- the bins were getting fuller, and fuller and fuller. And my heart just went out to them," said visitor Irene Jones.
Universal Orlando refused to tell WKMG-TV why bottled water wasn't being allowed to be brought inside the park or City Walk any longer. Spokesman Tom Schroeder would only say the park is reassessing its procedures and the ban would be temporary.
Jones said she and her family routinely bring their own water into the park as a cost-cutting move. Bottles run for as little as 99 cents in convenience stores near the park. Inside the park, bottled water runs $4 per-bottle.
"You're going on rides and you get thirsty," Jones said. "You're eating popcorn and that makes you even drier, so therefore you're buying, buying, buying drinks and you rack it all up by the day. That is not cheap."
Some people on social media speculated the ban on bottled water was in response to some people trying to sneak alcohol into the Mardi Gras festivities.
Universal wouldn't comment on the speculation.
The park is still allowing baby formula and medicine through the front gates.