Backpacks, fanny packs & lockers

[abitterbuffalo]

We're planning to go to Universal for the first time in early June and I'm a little confused. I'd like to avoid the lockers as much as possible but we will plan to be carrying a little bit with us. Suntan lotion, ponchos, etc. I'm half Russian and half Scottish = was not made to tan. At Disney we usually carry a small backpack and that would be the plan for Universal too. I've read that there are several rides where a backpack has to go in a locker first. Then I read that if you have a fanny pack you don't need to put those in a locker. But then again, I also read that there are some rides that anything in your pockets, inclusive of cellphones, need to go in a locker.

Is it that a fanny pack lets you skip the lockers for just a few of the rides that won't let a backpack on? Trying to decide if there is any convenience in carrying a fanny pack instead of a backpack. I'm willing to look like a fool if we can skip 'most' of the locker lines. THANKS!

 

[Lisse24]

IME, Locker lines are really not bad enough to try and avoid.

However, we tend to do childswap and so just leave everything with the other person, so I don't use lockers as much as some others might.

 

[ofcabbagesandkings]

I haven't gone to UO in a long time, but it's my understanding that you can wear a fanny pack so long as it has a three prong clasp on every ride except for Rip Ride Rocket and Incredible Hulk. That to me would be worth getting to skip locker lines. Of course, my kids' "I wants" at the HP souvenir shops will probably negate that since we'll likely be carrying shopping bags a lot of the time.

 

[policycobb]

I believe Hulk and Rip Ride Rocket are the only two rides you can not take anything and have to empty pockets. As Lisse24 said, locker lines aren't that bad. With COVID, there are team members pointing you to which lockers to use. I think that moves faster than when everyone just crammed in together.

 

[AJA]

The free lockers are small and will not hold a backpack.

Some rides do allow 3 prong closure fanny packs.

Some rides will make you use a locker (no phones, keys, etc).

If you really need a backpack You could rent a locker in the front of the park and just come back at lunch time for extra sunscreen.

The lockers are not hard to use, you will get use to them quickly. I would get travel size sunscreen and try to get by with just a fanny pack.

If you want to ride as a family, and plan on riding most rides, you will have to use the lockers. -again they are small, no backpacks in the free lockers. They do have larger ones but they are not free.

 

[CAPSLOCK]

If you have a single poncho / small suntan lotion that fits in a pocket, that would be my preference. Otherwise, I would just use the locker lines w/ your small backpack. They're really not as bad as they're made out to be. It averages maybe 3 minutes out of your day for each locker you use.

For Hagrids' line you have to wait for the locker line regardless, and Forbidden Journey as well when it is very busy.

 

[policycobb]

Good information with pictures at Orlando Informer and search for Rental-Ride-Lockers.

 

[AJA]

Checkout YouTube for locker size and ease info. I believe Craig and Ryno did a dis video on them a few years ago too.

The lockers are not as bothersome as you might think.

 

[bobafemme]

we carry a smallish sling-bag type backpack and it fits in all the lockers. It carries a bottle of water, snacks, 3 ponchos, 2 wands, sunscreen & wallets. The only lockers that feel like a hassle are Gringotts. People really struggle to listen to the one person per party going into the locker area. I'm sure COVID measures have reduced that nonsense.

 

[cschaaf]

The free lockers are small and will not hold a backpack.

Depends on the backpack and how much you have in it. I used to carry my laptop backpack and I could cram it in the small lockers, but couldn't get anything else in there - like my hat, wallet, sunglasses, etc.

I usually carry a backpack with a battery charger or two and cords for the whole family and several ponchos. Also have a couple ziplock bags to throw our phones in if we ride a water ride or it starts to rain.

I switched over to an Osprey Talon 11 for the last few trips. I can get that, and everything else - including 2 souvenir cups, in the small lockers.

I'm firmly in the 'the lockers aren't a big deal' camp. We're happy to carry a few things that will allow us to stay in the parks longer.

 

[RamblingMad]

I fit an Osprey Talon 22 in the lockers with no trouble.

 

[nkereina]

All rides except for Hulk and RRR will permit a three prong fanny pack to stay on your person without needing to use a locker. For Hulk and RRR, you have to pass through a metal detector prior to boarding a ride so you cannot have any bags/fanny packs on you or anything in your pocket. You can only have your lanyard with park tickets/EPs.

If you are carrying something other than a three prong fanny pack, as others have mentioned, the free lockers are small and won't hold much more than a crossbody bag. Maybe a drawstring backpack if its not full and you can squish it in there. Certainly not a full sized backpack.

I'd agree with PPs that the locker process is not normally a big deal - we never tried to go without solely to avoid having to use the lockers. Typically, they are quick and easy using your park ticket to open them. However, in the current environment, its my understanding that queues can form to access the lockers as they are allowing limited numbers inside the locker rooms at once to promote social distancing. We haven't been during the pandemic, but I imagine this is adding time to the overall process. In the past, you'd be shoulder to shoulder with people in the locker rooms at some points. So, if you can do a fanny pack, that's preferable.

Alternatively, there are for-cost lockers at the front of the park that come in various sizes. You could rent one of these for the day, and you can access it as often as needed, if you needed to bring more with you.

 

[MinnieMSue]

Will a refillable mug fit in the lockers with a small Fanny pack (thinking of RRR and Hulk. I think we will prob just take a Fanny pack to the parks

 

[TommyJK]

Will a refillable mug fit in the lockers with a small Fanny pack (thinking of RRR and Hulk. I think we will prob just take a Fanny pack to the parks

Yes but the lockers are "flat" so the mug will be on it's side (i.e. make sure it's empty). This is what they look like:

 

[MinnieMSue]

Yes but the lockers are "flat" so the mug will be on it's side (i.e. make sure it's empty). This is what they look like:

View attachment 559804

great thanks. I figured they would have to lay down but wanted to make sure it would fit in that position. Idk yet if we will even get one but trying to be prepared for our June trip.Last time we were there they were a week shy of allowing people to go into the second Harry Potter area so it has been awhile lol

 

[TommyJK]

great thanks. I figured they would have to lay down but wanted to make sure it would fit in that position. Idk yet if we will even get one but trying to be prepared for our June trip.Last time we were there they were a week shy of allowing people to go into the second Harry Potter area so it has been awhile lol

One thing that doesn't fit are the refillable popcorn buckets.

 

[cschaaf]

Will a refillable mug fit in the lockers with a small Fanny pack (thinking of RRR and Hulk. I think we will prob just take a Fanny pack to the parks

Yes, I fit my Osprey Talon 11 backpack (it's a very small, slim backpack) and two refillable cups in the small lockers. It takes a bit of Tetris playing to get it to fit, but it works.

There would be plenty of room for a fanny pack and 2-3 refillable cups.

 

[Calidisneyfam]

Sorry if this is redundant, but just to clarify which rides we can bring backpacks on: is it only Hulk and RRR that have restrictions?

Can we carry a backpack onto all of the other rides?

I don't think we can get by with just a fanny pack, but I don't want to have to walk all the way to the front of the park to get something out of the backpack. Thanks!

 

[bobafemme]

Other rides also restrict backpacks as well; I believe the suggestion above was a 3 prong fannypack (sorry British friends) would be permissible. I've seen someone turned away with a 2 prong at Gringotts or Forbidden (they run together for me). Hulk & RRR are the ones that allow nothing on you (you even go through a metal detector to make sure your keys are out of your pocket).

 

[abitterbuffalo]

Thank you everyone - appreciate all the feedback and comments. I did also watch Craig & Ryno's older vid and the orlando informer page was also helpful.

To summarize - you are using lockers on Hulk, RRR (& assuming VelociCoaster) no matter what. Lockers are there and optional if you want them on the three wet rides. Then there are five more locker rides where a small backpack that is not filled to the brim should fit no problem OR you could do the three prong fanny pack and skip the locker lines on these five rides (Mummy, MIB, Forbidden, Gingotts & Hagrid).

I think we're just going to stick with the small backpack that we already own instead of trying to skip those five locker lines. I think it's a 20L bag.