Do all the lockers at WWoHP have crazy lines?

[JudyS]

I have heard all the warnings about the horrible lines to use the free lockers at the main Harry Potter ride, with people waiting up to 90 minutes just to get a locker. However, I am going to WWoHP with a friend who really wants to bring a tote bag. I have tried to explain about the lines for the lockers, but she just doesn't seem to believe me.

So, I feel I need a back up plan. I'm assuming that using a locker in another area of the park (not WWoHP) won't work because then we'll have to stand in line to get back into WWoHP. So, I'm wondering if there are maybe some other lockers, such as pay lockers, inside WWoHP. Judging from Universal's site, there are some lockers by the Dragon Challenge. Are these the ones for people using the FJ ride, or are these a second group of lockers? Are there any lockers in the WWoHP other than the ones with the huge lines? I would much rather pay $10 or so for a locker than stand in a "locker line" for an hour!

I will be using a manual wheelchair at IOA (with my friend pushing), so another possibility will be to leave the tote bag with the wheelchair while we're actually on the ride. Do you think the TMs will let me do that? My friend is afraid the tote bag will be stolen if left with the wheelchair, but I think that's unlikely.

Finally, my understanding is that people can bring a waist pack on FJ (assuming the harness will still fit), and I'm guessing that things like sweaters are OK (again, assuming the harness will still fit.) What about eyeglasses? Do those have to be removed?

Thanks for any info!

 

[Tink2Day]

I think it's going to depend on when you go. The long lines that everyone has spoken about seemed to take place during the Holiday season. Some of us have mentioned we were there from Mid Sept, my case the first week of November and the crowds just weren't there, no waits for lockers or rides to speak of. Who knows what it will be?

The Annual Pass price has apparently increased quite a bit so maybe the locals won't be coming in droves either.

Glasses are fine if they fit well, a glass strap comes in handy. I had on a zip up sweatshirt AND a fleece jacket and it was fine, if you fit FJ you will fit with sweater etc. Fanny packs may impede the harness, I was frantically taking off my celll case and sticking it in my coat pocket because the harness fit better with it off of my belt.

 

[Mikelly1221]

Saturday afternoon we used the lockers right as you enter WWOHP, next to the train. No wait at all, very manageable. It didn't seem like the lockers next to FJ were very busy either...in hindsight, we probably should have used those, but I was concerned about crazy lines and crowds next to the ride, so we just grabbed the first ones we saw.

 

[Metro West]

The Annual Pass price has apparently increased quite a bit so maybe the locals won't be coming in droves either.

Don't count on it.

Many of us already have APs and the renewals haven't changed a lot.

 

[Tink2Day]

Metro, just going by the number of complaints I read on some other sites and a few on here.
Now maybe you and I(IF I was a local) would go once or twice a week but some people would think that was TOO much. Silly people aren't they?

 

[Metro West]

Metro, just going by the number of complaints I read on some other sites and a few on here.
Now maybe you and I(IF I was a local) would go once or twice a week but some people would think that was TOO much. Silly people aren't they?

When I first moved here in 2004 I was going to Universal three or four days a week and Disney the remainder of the time. It sure was nice not having to work then.

 

[cigar95]

I recall reading a while back that the Forbidden Journey lockers have a "back entrance" that may be far less crowded, but can be used without actually "cutting the line". True? Where is this entrance?

We will be at WW for a couple hours on 1/23, then return for a full three-day visit to IoA and USF on 1/26. Hoping to arrive armed with as much useful information as possible - last Universal visit was in 2007. (Love those old seven-day tickets - we get that extra "preview day" for just the cost of parking.)

Thanks.

 

[mesaboy2]

I recall reading a while back that the Forbidden Journey lockers have a "back entrance" that may be far less crowded, but can be used without actually "cutting the line". True? Where is this entrance?

We will be at WW for a couple hours on 1/23, then return for a full three-day visit to IoA and USF on 1/26. Hoping to arrive armed with as much useful information as possible - last Universal visit was in 2007. (Love those old seven-day tickets - we get that extra "preview day" for just the cost of parking.)

Thanks.

You must be referring to the "entrance" to the lockers through Filch's Emporium, which is located at the ride's exit. This is of course how people retrieve their stuff from the lockers after they leave the ride. Whether or not this is "cutting the line" is open to interpretation, I suppose. I've not seen anyone here call it that, I don't think.

 

[MrShiny]

I would say you could go into the lockers through Filches and stow your stuff - you'd still have to get back into the main line. It can't really be seen as "cheating" as you are making the main line a bit shorter as it splits off for the lockers.

Going into Filches is perfectly OK, if a really, really, really bad design! That store should have been soo much bigger and the placement of the picture screens right at the exit was really bad!

Could have kept the all important cluttered small store look with a way to get people in and out effeciently, imho.

 

[JudyS]

Thank you to everyone who posted info!

I think it's going to depend on when you go...

Glasses are fine if they fit well, a glass strap comes in handy. I had on a zip up sweatshirt AND a fleece jacket and it was fine, if you fit FJ you will fit with sweater etc. Fanny packs may impede the harness, I was frantically taking off my celll case and sticking it in my coat pocket because the harness fit better with it off of my belt.

I'll be probably be there next Saturday, which is the Saturday of MLK weekend, so the crowds might be pretty bad.

So, I can actually *wear* my glasses on the ride, but you recommend a strap for them - is that right?

Saturday afternoon we used the lockers right as you enter WWOHP, next to the train. No wait at all, very manageable. It didn't seem like the lockers next to FJ were very busy either...in hindsight, we probably should have used those, but I was concerned about crazy lines and crowds next to the ride, so we just grabbed the first ones we saw.

MiKelly, so are the lockers you used the regular pay type? That sounds fine to me if it avoids a possible wait. I would have grabbed the first lockers I saw, too!

 

[the Dark Marauder]

You must be referring to the "entrance" to the lockers through Filch's Emporium, which is located at the ride's exit. This is of course how people retrieve their stuff from the lockers after they leave the ride. Whether or not this is "cutting the line" is open to interpretation, I suppose. I've not seen anyone here call it that, I don't think.

This is my method. Snake through Filch's, use a locker station (if needed) then dart into the singles line.

 

[Tink2Day]

Yes it seems that any time kids are off school it will be crowded. However a one day holiday? I wouldn't think it would be immensely crowded with out of town visitors. However, this is uncharted territory so I would guess that no one really knows do they?

If your glasses fit well it should be no problem. I had brand new, VERY expensive glasses so I was being extra careful.

 

[SmallWorld71]

I just wanted to agree with those who said to go through Filches to get to the lockers. We did this in the summer when the locker line was very long, in fact on most days it was as long or longer than the ride line. There are empty lockers just sitting there at the back that people from the line never come back to use, so you aren't hurting anyone in line. To get to the lockers through Filches, you do have to go against the grain of those exiting the ride briefly though, so I would not attempt it with a wheelchair. I would just send your friend through. Then, make sure when she is done that you don't wait in the locker line when you want the ride line. (A problem I noticed this past summer.) It sounds complicated, but it was really quite easy to find once you are there.

 

[JudyS]

Thanks for all the tips!