Lots of angry people over the free lockers

[Anita123]

Today was the first time I've encountered a problem with the lockers.

The wait time for the ride was 20 minutes. In reality it took more like 45 minutes to get through the line, which meant everyone was being asked to pay for their locker.

I felt bad for the over whelmed attendant. He was having to over ride people's lockers so they could get their stuff out without the charge.

I also saw an irate guy trying to explain how the locker just wasn't big enough for his back pack.

The lockers are very small. My son has a small backpack for his medical supplies and it only just fits in the lockers.

 

[JillyBean1899]

Today was the first time I've encountered a problem with the lockers.

The wait time for the ride was 20 minutes. In reality it took more like 45 minutes to get through the line, which meant everyone was being asked to pay for their locker.

I felt bad for the over whelmed attendant. He was having to over ride people's lockers so they could get their stuff out without the charge.

I also saw an irate guy trying to explain how the locker just wasn't big enough for his back pack.

The lockers are very small. My son has a small backpack for his medical supplies and it only just fits in the lockers.

I haven't seen a problem with the locker sizes at all. When we were there in October, all 4 of us put our stuff in one locker, and I have a CamelBak water reservoir backpack to stuff in there. It took a little trial and error the first time to get stuff in the right order, but after that it was fine.

As for people complaining about the "free" lockers ... I don't get it. Something is offered to you for free, and you still complain. Maybe Universal should just go to the system that Sea World/Busch Gardens have ... pay $0.50 for a locker each time you go on a ride. Sometimes the ride is longer than the time currently set on the lockers. Sometimes the ride is longer than the posted wait time because it doesn't get updated every 30 seconds. The attendant was comping everyone the time on the lockers. Some people just need to chill out and relax. Those are the type of people that I *DON'T* miss dealing with when I worked at the parks.

 

[Anita123]

To be fair the "free" lockers aren't really free. You've already paid for them in the price of your admission.

I think it's disingenuous to tell customers that the lockers are free for the length of the ride and then try charging them (in my case $3) because the wait time was off by a magnitude of 3.

 

[bumbershoot]

I think it's disingenuous to tell customers that the lockers are free for the length of the ride and then try charging them (in my case $3) because the wait time was off by a magnitude of 3.

But the attendant was voiding the charges. They knew what had happened.

The charge is made when YOU are the one taking your time, not when the ride has a problem. So if I choose to ride 5 times with EP and I go over time, it's up to me to pay. If I'm in what should be a 30 minute line and it turns to 60, the attendant will help with that.


We find the lockers to be pretty small, too. We generally rent two because we generally have two things of some sort with us.

 

[tweak89]

This is one thing that Disney does better than any other theme park operator, almost every ride (and I've been to WDW, DL and DLP) can accommodate an average size purse, or bag (I carry a small camelbak pack at the Disney parks).

We tend to streamline to avoid having to use lockers at other theme parks including Universal. While they are free, unless you manage your time horribly, it's still somewhat of a hassle, especially on really crowded days. Of course, if you stay onsite and use the Express Pass lines, getting charged should never be an issue since you will always have a shorter wait than the regular line (which the timing is based off of).

 

[RMulieri]

Which is why I never bring bags to Universal, or disney for that matter..My daughter is older now to not need baby/small child stuff and any meds I need I tuck into my waistpack ( which is allowed).I have no need to carry a huge pack like a sherpa ascending Everest.If my daughter wants to bring something, she carries it in her waist pack.If DH wants to bring something, he carries it in cargo shorts..I did the locker lines ONCE at Forbidden Journey and that was enough to convince me

 

[Metro West]

This is one thing that Disney does better than any other theme park operator, almost every ride (and I've been to WDW, DL and DLP) can accommodate an average size purse, or bag (I carry a small camelbak pack at the Disney parks).

Disney will allow carry on bags until there's some sort of injury caused by something that was brought onto the ride. Then you will see Disney put up lockers just like other parks. Yes...their rides are accommodating but I don't remember any cases where something flew off a ride and injured another guest so there's no reason not to allow carry on bags. You used to be able to carry on stuff on MIB but someone got hurt when a pair of glasses (I believe) flew out of the car and hit another rider. That's why you can't carry anything on today. This will be the same course of action if something happens at one of the Disney parks...you can bank on it.

 

[rstout01]

What are you allowed to carry on to the rides with lockers? I can easily put money and tickets in a holder around my neck, but can you put phones and a small camera in your pocket to avoid the lockers?

 

[damo]

What are you allowed to carry on to the rides with lockers? I can easily put money and tickets in a holder around my neck, but can you put phones and a small camera in your pocket to avoid the lockers?

Yes, you can put stuff in your pockets. Make sure your pockets close because it is easy to lose your phone and camera when you are flipped upside down.

 

[wiigirl]

This is one thing that Disney does better than any other theme park operator, almost every ride (and I've been to WDW, DL and DLP) can accommodate an average size purse, or bag (I carry a small camelbak pack at the Disney parks).

We tend to streamline to avoid having to use lockers at other theme parks including Universal. While they are free, unless you manage your time horribly, it's still somewhat of a hassle, especially on really crowded days. Of course, if you stay onsite and use the Express Pass lines, getting charged should never be an issue since you will always have a shorter wait than the regular line (which the timing is based off of).

 

[infopurposesonly]

I'm a Universal newbie. Are there specific rides that require the use of a locker for belongings?

 

[delilah]

I know the dragons roller coaster and hogwarts castle do. The first time we went to Universal, it caught us by surprise that we were told that we couldn't take anything onto the Hogwarts castle ride. When we rode, the first time, it was newly opened. How it used to work is that when your time was up, potentially your locker could be reassigned. I know this is the case, because once we were assigned a locker, which opened, and somebody else's stuff was in it. We closed the locker, but, it really made me nervous about leaving my small crossbody bag in the locker. Not everybody is honest enough to just close the locker and move on. I think our locker was reassigned, as well. We couldn't open it when we got off the ride, and this also added to the work for the attendant, who then had to manually open our locker, so we could get our stuff, which, fortunately, was still in the locker. Now, we use the lockers near the dragon ride, which are in a more open area, and just pay for plenty of time.

 

[RMulieri]

I'm a Universal newbie. Are there specific rides that require the use of a locker for belongings?

Harry Potter Forbidden Journey, The HULK, Dragon Challenge, Rip RIde Rocket, Men In Black and Rvenge of the Mummy

 

[Metro West]

I'm a Universal newbie. Are there specific rides that require the use of a locker for belongings?

Yes there are a handful of attractions that do not allow carry on bags.

IOA: Hulk, Forbidden Journey, Dragon Challenge

Studios: Rockit, Revenge of the Mummy and MIB

I don't think I forgot any.

 

[RMulieri]

Yes there are a handful of attractions that do not allow carry on bags.

IOA: Hulk, Forbidden Journey, Dragon Challenge

Studios: Rockit and MIB

I don't think I forgot any.

LOL...You have MIB twice and forgot Mummy

 

[Metro West]

LOL...You have MIB twice and forgot Mummy

Nope...corrected...must have posted too quickly.

 

[tweak89]

Disney will allow carry on bags until there's some sort of injury caused by something that was brought onto the ride. Then you will see Disney put up lockers just like other parks. Yes...their rides are accommodating but I don't remember any cases where something flew off a ride and injured another guest so there's no reason not to allow carry on bags. You used to be able to carry on stuff on MIB but someone got hurt when a pair of glasses (I believe) flew out of the car and hit another rider. That's why you can't carry anything on today. This will be the same course of action if something happens at one of the Disney parks...you can bank on it.

While this may be true, it's just speculation at this point and that they MIGHT do it some day has no real relevance to the discussion at hand. Fact is, you CAN do it.

You could say that rides at other parks are more demanding (for lack of a better word) but Rock n Roller Coaster, Expedition Everest, Indiana Jones and Space Mountain (at DLP, both feature loops) among others are on par with things like Dragon Challenge, Hulk and Rip Ride Rockit, yet they all feature a stretch netting for you "carry ons".

Of course the other alternative (seen at most of the Six Flags parks) are the bins that let you leave your item as you board the ride. Not too bad, but the chance of random theft is high.

 

[Metro West]

While this may be true, it's just speculation at this point and that they MIGHT do it some day has no real relevance to the discussion at hand. Fact is, you CAN do it.

You could say that rides at other parks are more demanding (for lack of a better word) but Rock n Roller Coaster, Expedition Everest, Indiana Jones and Space Mountain (at DLP, both feature loops) among others are on par with things like Dragon Challenge, Hulk and Rip Ride Rockit, yet they all feature a stretch netting for you "carry ons".

Of course the other alternative (seen at most of the Six Flags parks) are the bins that let you leave your item as you board the ride. Not too bad, but the chance of random theft is high.

The main reason you can't leave belongings at the station is because you load/unload in different areas and no one is going to take responsibility for those things left behind.

Oh and thanks for pointing out what's relevant and what's not. I will keep that in mind.

 

[tweak89]

The main reason you can't leave belongings at the station is because you load/unload in different areas and no one is going to take responsibility for those things left behind.

Oh and thanks for pointing out what's relevant and what's not. I will keep that in mind.

Your welcome! Thanks for being keeping that in mind!! Never said they should do it, just pointing out a common practice used at other parks!! Thanks for playing!

 

[Molyneuxd]

I had an issue with lockers on last trip but was quickly dealt with.......

Think it was MIB, came off the ride which was longer than the wait time so locker wanted to charge me. I had put everything in the locker as I had shorts with loose pockets so didn't want to loose my wallet.

Obviously had no money to pay the fee, asked to borrow $ off the person in queue behind me no one offered to loan me $ for 1min while opened locker.

Found the team member and he opened it and wouldn't allow me to pay for the locker, wouldn't even accept a small tip for sorting me out (not sure if they are allowed or not)

Lesson learned keep a couple of $'s in a pocket just in case.