Bag suggestions for first timer

[mrsgthatsme]

Good Morning! We are headed to Universal next week for the first time. When we go to Disney, we generally carry one backpack containing our phones, a few small snacks, sunscreen, hand sanitizer, etc... From what I am reading about Universal, it sounds like backpacks need to be put in lockers prior to riding most rides and they need to be fairly small to even fit in those lockers. What would you suggest as far as a bag at Universal? We also plan on having two of the freestyle mugs, otherwise we might just try to forgo a bag completely and put a few items in our shorts pockets, but I don't think this would be an option with the mugs. Would love to hear any suggestions you have from your own experiences! Thank you!

 

[macraven]

Mugs can fit in the lockers while you are doing rides

 

[mrsgthatsme]

Mugs can fit in the lockers while you are doing rides

Good to know. My thought was that as long as we are going to have to stop to put the mugs in the lockers, we might as well carry them in a bag so we can carry our other items in there too.

 

[reddog21]

The lockers are fairly small, I had a normal sized backpack and it was a tight fit.

 

[DisneyMom93]

We don't use the cups so I can't answer that... but I suggest waist packs. You can ride almost all the rides with them. (I think maybe 3 rides you can't have any bags of any kind, or any phones, etc.) If you use a backpack then there are more rides you would have to use a locker.

If you don't like "fanny packs" you don't have to wear the bag around your waist most of the time. I just put mine on my waist for the rides that only allow waist packs. I either carry mine on my shoulder or wear it across my chest, etc.

And it must be a "three-prong" waist pack/fanny pack/belt bag.

 

[DisneyMom93]

Good to know. My thought was that as long as we are going to have to stop to put the mugs in the lockers, we might as well carry them in a bag so we can carry our other items in there too.

From what I have read, the mugs have to be empty to store in the locker. They don't fit upright.

 

[mrsgthatsme]

We don't use the cups so I can't answer that... but I suggest waist packs. You can ride almost all the rides with them. (I think maybe 3 rides you can't have any bags of any kind, or any phones, etc.) If you use a backpack then there are more rides you would have to use a locker.

If you don't like "fanny packs" you don't have to wear the bag around your waist most of the time. I just put mine on my waist for the rides that only allow waist packs. I either carry mine on my shoulder or wear it across my chest, etc.

And it must be a "three-prong" waist pack/fanny pack/belt bag.

Are these big enough to fit a few snacks, sunscreen and your phones in? Do you think you could loop the strap around the mug handles or would they make you put the mugs in the locker anyway?

 

[DisneyMom93]

Are these big enough to fit a few snacks, sunscreen and your phones in? Do you think you could loop the strap around the mug handles or would they make you put the mugs in the locker anyway?

They come in different sizes. You probably couldn't fit all of that in one waist bag. Definitely fit my phone, small phone charger, thin wallet, tissue pack, band-aids, a pack of Wet Ones, a small sunscreen or sunscreen wipes, lip balm, compact, granola bar, disposable plastic poncho, a plastic pill baggie of pain meds, etc.

I have attached a carabiner clip to mine to hold the popcorn bucket at Disney World so maybe you can clip the mug onto that if it has a handle. And I don't know if you can bring the cup on the rides if it's attached to your waist pack (since I don't buy the mug). Sorry. FYI we just get free water with ice from the counter service restaurants. We have also brought the collapsible plastic water bottles with us in the past. But we only drink water, not soft drinks, etc.

Sorry I can't be of more help.

***EDITED to add: But you can each carry a waist pack to bring more stuff with you. I usually carry all that we need and my husband and daughters just carry their phones in their pockets. But the girls would use a waist pack if they wanted to carry more items.

 

[mrsgthatsme]

They come in different sizes. You probably couldn't fit all of that in one waist bag. Definitely fit my phone, small phone charger, thin wallet, tissue pack, band-aids, a pack of Wet Ones, a small sunscreen or sunscreen wipes, lip balm, compact, granola bar, disposable plastic poncho, a plastic pill baggie of pain meds, etc.

I have attached a carabiner clip to mine to hold the popcorn bucket at Disney World so maybe you can clip the mug onto that if it has a handle. And I don't know if you can bring the cup on the rides if it's attached to your waist pack (since I don't buy the mug). Sorry. FYI we just get free water with ice from the counter service restaurants. We have also brought the collapsible plastic water bottles with us in the past. But we only drink water, not soft drinks, etc.

Sorry I can't be of more help.

***EDITED to add: But you can each carry a waist pack to bring more stuff with you. I usually carry all that we need and my husband and daughters just carry their phones in their pockets. But the girls would use a waist pack if they wanted to carry more items.

Thank you! That is very helpful!

 

[ajsamett]

I can't speak for the mugs, but the biggest issue with the lockers is height (just google images universal lockers and you'll see how thin they are). I regularly bring a backpack with everything anyone could ever need and do my best to keep it flat (keep the water and sunscreen all in a line). Haven't had too much issue stuffing it in the locker with some effort. If you want it to be easy, I'd not bring anything bigger than a drawstring.

Hacks/tips
To access the lockers, you need a barcode from either your ticket (physical or digital) or onsite hotel key, so you need a way to keep that on your person while riding (I'm an AP so I have a lanyard). Some rides will make you tuck the lanyard into your shirt for safety reasons but it's fine.
You can get an extra locker if you need it by asking a TM for a locker barcode. They have paper barcodes in case your ticket is on your phone so you can just shove things into several lockers. Additionally, if onsite, your ticket and hotel key can each be a locker barcode.
If you use several lockers and have all the tickets on the phones, you can just have 1 paper barcode and make sure to put all the phones in that locker so you can open that one and then take the phones out to open the others.

As an overpacker I'm fairly locker savy at this point

 

[reddog21]

I can't speak for the mugs, but the biggest issue with the lockers is height (just google images universal lockers and you'll see how thin they are). I regularly bring a backpack with everything anyone could ever need and do my best to keep it flat (keep the water and sunscreen all in a line). Haven't had too much issue stuffing it in the locker with some effort. If you want it to be easy, I'd not bring anything bigger than a drawstring.

Hacks/tips
To access the lockers, you need a barcode from either your ticket (physical or digital) or onsite hotel key, so you need a way to keep that on your person while riding (I'm an AP so I have a lanyard). Some rides will make you tuck the lanyard into your shirt for safety reasons but it's fine.
You can get an extra locker if you need it by asking a TM for a locker barcode. They have paper barcodes in case your ticket is on your phone so you can just shove things into several lockers. Additionally, if onsite, your ticket and hotel key can each be a locker barcode.
If you use several lockers and have all the tickets on the phones, you can just have 1 paper barcode and make sure to put all the phones in that locker so you can open that one and then take the phones out to open the others.

As an overpacker I'm fairly locker savy at this point

I would just add that if the lockers are busy good luck trying to get an attendant. My bag strap got stuck in the lockers door which was fine when going to the ride however I couldn't get the
locker door open so it took about 10 minutes to get an attended to get to my locker(3 seconds to actually open it). It was the locker in front of Hagrid which at the time was jam packed with people.

The VelociCoaster lockers are cool since you put them in one side and retrieve them from the other.

 

[Skywalker3]

I carry a regular sized backpack, and ease of locker storage will depend on how full you stuff it. I did better in Oct than I did this last March. This time, had to REALLY squash it down, and had a few times where it barely fit, especially when we also had to put phones in. Hubby prefers fanny pack when he feels he needs a bag, or sometimes sack type. But if you dont' overstuff the backpack/can disperse the contents, it'll fit. We also did 2 mugs in another locker. you will have to lay them down, so need to be empty. I also carry my wallet/phone in pocket, (but had to put those in locker at VC) and ticket/AP in lanyard, I like having my stuff, so I prefer a backpack.
Happy planning!!!

 

[mrsgthatsme]

I carry a regular sized backpack, and ease of locker storage will depend on how full you stuff it. I did better in Oct than I did this last March. This time, had to REALLY squash it down, and had a few times where it barely fit, especially when we also had to put phones in. Hubby prefers fanny pack when he feels he needs a bag, or sometimes sack type. But if you dont' overstuff the backpack/can disperse the contents, it'll fit. We also did 2 mugs in another locker. you will have to lay them down, so need to be empty. I also carry my wallet/phone in pocket, (but had to put those in locker at VC) and ticket/AP in lanyard, I like having my stuff, so I prefer a backpack.
Happy planning!!!

Thanks! I’m also an overpacker and just feel better when I know I have everything I might possibly need! Good tips!

 

[lisam70]

We take a yeti canteen and fill it with water at the freestyle machines. It fits in the locker laying down. We use a small Eddie Bauer backpack and that works well. One time we used a full-size back pack and it was super tight. Worse case you may need two lockers.

 

[BLTtinkerbell]

This is all good info. to know, as we are also a WDW family going to Universal for the first time. We usually each carry a backpack or drawstring bag to keep our phone, hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, water in.

Questions:

•How/where can we find out which rides allow cell phones or other items in pockets and which don’t?

•Is there a list of rides that don’t allow backpacks? Or a list of rides that do?

•Are lockers available at every ride location? Or central locations? Fee to use lockers?

•Cost of refillable mugs?

Thank you all! We are looking forward to our first of many trips to Universal!

 

[lisam70]

This is all good info. to know, as we are also a WDW family going to Universal for the first time. We usually each carry a backpack or drawstring bag to keep our phone, hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, water in.

Questions:

•How/where can we find out which rides allow cell phones or other items in pockets and which don’t?

•Is there a list of rides that don’t allow backpacks? Or a list of rides that do?

•Are lockers available at every ride location? Or central locations? Fee to use lockers?

•Cost of refillable mugs?

Thank you all! We are looking forward to our first of many trips to Universal!

The big coasters Hulk, RRR and velocicoaster have metal detectors so you really can’t take anything. Hagrid, FJ, mummy and MIB you can take phone and Fanny pack but not a back pack. Lockers at rides are free.
I am probably forgetting something. Seems like there should be a list I’m just not sure where.

 

[Skippyboo]

Lockers needed for Mummy, Men in Black, Gringotts, Rip Ride Rocket (metal detectors so everything has to go in locker)
IoA: Harry Potter and Forbidden Journey, Hagrid’s, Hulk (metal detectors), VelociCoaster (metal detectors).

Free lockers are about 4 inches tall, so you don’t want to overstuff your park bag. A small sling bag or drawstring bag where you can spread it out to lay flatter will be ideal. You want to get lanyards with a pouch for everyone in your group either before or at the park to keep hold of ticket and room key. They are super useful.

 

[BLTtinkerbell]

Found this:

Universal Studios Florida™
✔ Revenge of the Mummy™
✔ MEN IN BLACK™ Alien Attack™
✔ Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit™
✔ Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts™

Universal’s Islands of Adventure™
✔ The Incredible Hulk Coaster®
✔ Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey™
✔ Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure™
✔ Jurassic World VelociCoaster

The standard-sized lockers (14 in x 5.5 in x 16.9 in) for small loose articles are free while you ride.

 

[DoryGirl1963]

Found this:

Universal Studios Florida™
✔ Revenge of the Mummy™
✔ MEN IN BLACK™ Alien Attack™
✔ Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit™
✔ Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts™

Universal’s Islands of Adventure™
✔ The Incredible Hulk Coaster®
✔ Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey™
✔ Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure™
✔ Jurassic World VelociCoaster

The standard-sized lockers (14 in x 5.5 in x 16.9 in) for small loose articles are free while you ride.

Keep in mind that three of those - Hulk, Velocicoaster & Rip Ride Rockit - use metal detectors. You won't be able to have anything not even a penny in your pocket. Only a lanyard allowed on those.

 

[mrsgthatsme]

Lockers needed for Mummy, Men in Black, Gringotts, Rip Ride Rocket (metal detectors so everything has to go in locker)
IoA: Harry Potter and Forbidden Journey, Hagrid’s, Hulk (metal detectors), VelociCoaster (metal detectors).

Free lockers are about 4 inches tall, so you don’t want to overstuff your park bag. A small sling bag or drawstring bag where you can spread it out to lay flatter will be ideal. You want to get lanyards with a pouch for everyone in your group either before or at the park to keep hold of ticket and room key. They are super useful.

Do you know what you need to swipe to get back into your locker? Is it your park ticket? If yours is on your phone, do you just need to print it out for the rides that require you to put phones in the locker? If you had zip up shorts could you zip your phone in there?