Metal Detectors and lockers at the rides?

[davper]

I have never been to US. This will be my first time. I have been reading the forums and am a little concerned about what I am reading.

It seems some of the rides have lockers and metal detectors. This seems a little extreme to me.
Are the lockers free? I am used to paying 5 to 10 per locker. If they are even $1, I don't think I will ever be going back to US.
When do you put stuff into the lockers? Before you get in line or just before you get on the ride?
Is there enough lockers? Will I have to wait for a locker to open before I can get in line?
If they give you a key, and no metal is allowed on the ride, what do you do with the key?
How many rides are like this?

My wallet sets off metal detectors and I don't feel comfortable being separated from it.

 

[schumigirl]

RRR and Dragon Challenge have detectors so people who insist on not emptying pockets properly of anything that can be propelled out and hit someone are not allowed to slip through. You put everything in free lockers before getting in the queue.

Hulk also has this but the ride is closed right now till June next year.

Its very simple and not extreme, and yes there are plenty of lockers that are free while you ride. They are operated by fingerprint, no key.

These rides are extreme and things flying out of people`s pockets and such can hurt people....which is why this was implemented in the first place. Someone lost an eye on DC few years back. If your wallet sets off the detector you will be made to go out of the queue and put it in a locker......or not ride.

 

[angierae]

Yup. The lockers are free but these rules were put into effect specifically because of an injury. Now, I ride rides at Cedar Point ALL THE TIME with items in my pockets and extreme coasters and everything's fine, but I totally understand Universal wanting to cover themselves.

 

[acc82]

word of warning - the lockers are kinda small. they expect you to put EVERYTHING in the lockers. Our regular sized backpack barely fits! You may need one per adult in the group if you have lots of stuff.

 

[bumbershoot]

It seems some of the rides have lockers and metal detectors. This seems a little extreme to me.

It happened because people would say they had nothing, or say they would keep things in their pockets, and then items would fall out of pockets or out of heir hands and hit other guests. I don't want to have a cellphone hit me in the head while I'm walking by Rip Ride Rockit! I don't want someone's pocketful of quarters to fall out during the initial lift on RRR and hit me in the face while I'm behind them on the ride. I don't want them to have to shut the ride down because someone felt the need to take video of FJ...

So it's good that they are doing this.

The lockers for the rides where it's required are free. They are locked by your fingerprint/scan, and there are Team Members there to help out. Put your wallet away; you wouldn't want it to fall out on the ride! Keep it safe in that locker. You can wear glasses and you can wear a lanyard with park ticket/ID/etc (tuck it under your shirt), and you can go and enjoy the ride without worrying.

 

[schumigirl]

It happened because people would say they had nothing, or say they would keep things in their pockets, and then items would fall out of pockets or out of heir hands and hit other guests. I don't want to have a cellphone hit me in the head while I'm walking by Rip Ride Rockit! I don't want someone's pocketful of quarters to fall out during the initial lift on RRR and hit me in the face while I'm behind them on the ride. I don't want them to have to shut the ride down because someone felt the need to take video of FJ...

So it's good that they are doing this.

The lockers for the rides where it's required are free. They are locked by your fingerprint/scan, and there are Team Members there to help out. Put your wallet away; you wouldn't want it to fall out on the ride! Keep it safe in that locker. You can wear glasses and you can wear a lanyard with park ticket/ID/etc (tuck it under your shirt), and you can go and enjoy the ride without worrying.

Yep, and even with this knowledge we still saw people try to take through phones, coins and such and moan to TM about why they should still be allowed on ride with their stuff.......couldn`t quite believe it..........


As for the size of the lockers, they quite comfortably held two decent size fanny packs, hats and a large camera.......so unless there are more of you you`ll be fine with one.....or have loads of stuff of course.......then just get a couple of lockers.

Really is no reason to go on with any of those items that are prohibited.

 

[RMulieri]

after seeing a random cell phone fly out of a Hulk vehicle and land on the pavement not too far from where I was standing , I am GLAD they have become strict.

 

[slford00]

Just got back from Universal. HP Forbidden Journey, Dragon Challenge, HP Gringotts, Revenge of the Mummy, and Rip Ride Rockit all had lockers and required any loose items/bags to be locked away. Dragon Challenge and RRR were strictest, with metal detectors, and required pockets to be completely emptied out (all other rides allowed items in pockets). When Hulk is operating, it is that strict as well.

For the most part, it was just a minor hassle, but the lockers are free and you become very efficient at using them after doing it a couple times. However, at HP Forbidden Journey it is an absolute nightmare--FAR too many people trying to get in and out of a small, enclosed space (the locker area there is more enclosed with less space than the others). When my wife and I did repeat rides via single rider line, we spent significantly more time accessing the lockers than actually waiting in line. Gringotts was similarly busy, but the locker area has a better layout to handle crowds.

If you can get by without taking anything that doesn't fit in your pockets (i.e. no packs, handbags, cameras, etc.), I would highly recommend that. In that case, you'd only have to use lockers for Dragon Challenge and RRR, and would avoid the HP FJ mosh pit disaster.

 

[slford00]

I have to think the newer policy of forcing guests to empty pockets and stow everything in lockers has to be the result of increased frequency of obnoxious/unsafe guest behavior--e.g. taking out smartphones and trying to take selfies or video the experience while on rides.

My wife and I are theme park junkies and have visited all kinds of parks dozens of times over the years--Universal, Disney, Kings Island, Cedar Point, Carowinds, Kentucky Kingdom, Sea World, Holiday World, Six Flags Georgia/St. Louis/San Antonio. I've ridden just about every thrill ride and coaster of every type/height/intensity, and neither one of us have ever had a phone, wallet, or any other device fall out of our pocket on a ride. Simply put, it is near-impossible for an object in your pocket to "fall out" and injure someone else when seated and restrained on a ride. And RRR and Dragon Challenge are very mild, tame coasters compared to rides at Kings Island/Cedar Point/Six Flags.

No, it must be a case of obnoxious behavior leading to people to drop items on these rides, which in turn forces Universal to take such precautions to avoid liability. Which makes for an annoying experience for everyone else.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

So it sounds like things have changed since our last visit where we were always allowed to have our Fanny Packs on DC. I had heard that they were now restricting that on RRR but had not heard of that being done on the other rides. Am I understanding correctly?

 

[nkereina]

Are the lockers free?

Yes

When do you put stuff into the lockers? Before you get in line or just before you get on the ride?

Before you enter the queue, there will be lockers somewhere nearby that you'll need to stop at first. Your party should go with you, so you don't have to catch up to them in line.

Is there enough lockers? Will I have to wait for a locker to open before I can get in line?
If they give you a key, and no metal is allowed on the ride, what do you do with the key?

There are a lot of lockers, but the only time I've heard of there not being enough is during the holiday season when the park is packed. There is no key, it's all done through your finger print. You'll walk up to the screen, scan your finger print, and it will assign you a locker somewhere near the screen. You'll have to return to the screen and scan your finger again in order to unlock it. Depending on which locker bank you go to, there maybe a couple people ahead of you getting lockers that you'd have to wait.

How many rides are like this?

Only a handful. Just the more intense rides where you have the potential to lose loose articles. The only ride that had optional lockers (which require payment) was Ripsaw Falls, and we opted to pay for one there so our stuff didn't get soaked. Glad we did!

So it sounds like things have changed since our last visit where we were always allowed to have our Fanny Packs on DC. I had heard that they were now restricting that on RRR but had not heard of that being done on the other rides. Am I understanding correctly?

No fanny packs on RRR, Dragon Challenge or the Hulk from recent reports I have seen. Everything else that is a "locker ride", three prong fanny packs will still be ok.

 

[Kellitinkerbelli]

Are fannypacks allowed on any of the rides?
I was there last year and swear I saw a woman on one of the Harry Potter rides go in with a fanny pack on.
I don't know if it was an oversight or what.

 

[snoopboop]

Are fannypacks allowed on any of the rides?
I was there last year and swear I saw a woman on one of the Harry Potter rides go in with a fanny pack on.
I don't know if it was an oversight or what.

The post right above yours answers your question.

 

[schumigirl]

Are fannypacks allowed on any of the rides?
I was there last year and swear I saw a woman on one of the Harry Potter rides go in with a fanny pack on.
I don't know if it was an oversight or what.

Only rides I take my three prong fanny pack off for are, RRR, Hulk and Duelling Dragons......oh I take it off for Dr Doom too......there's a bit to put your stuff in when you go into sit in the ride.

The Mummy is fine for fanny packs.

 

[TommyJK]

However, at HP Forbidden Journey it is an absolute nightmare--FAR too many people trying to get in and out of a small, enclosed space

Does anyone know if you can bypass this hassle at Forbidden Journey when using the Rider Swap? On my next visit, one of the kids is not big enough to go on and we'll be using rider swap because of it. Can the person who is sitting off sit with the backpack? Or will they not let you into the line through Hogwarts Castle if you have a backpack with you?

 

[snoopboop]

Does anyone know if you can bypass this hassle at Forbidden Journey when using the Rider Swap? On my next visit, one of the kids is not big enough to go on and we'll be using rider swap because of it. Can the person who is sitting off sit with the backpack? Or will they not let you into the line through Hogwarts Castle if you have a backpack with you?

YES - if you're doing child swap, the adult sitting with the child can hold the bags.

 

[Kivara]

^ Exactly! We have never used the lockers there as we always have one kid that doesn't ride this. The workers will remind you of the lockers, just let them know you are doing child swap, and they usher you on by.

 

[bumbershoot]

I was there last year and swear I saw a woman on one of the Harry Potter rides go in with a fanny pack on.

If you saw her *go in* to the line with a waistpack on, even if it's a ride where that's not allowed, she wasn't riding.

If you saw her *go on* the ride with a waistpack on, then it was allowed on that particular HP ride.


If you have someone holding bags and not riding, you will be asked *often* if you need a locker! But just answer it and move along.

 

[epcotty]

I use a locker for MIB to put my drink in, it's easy enough and free (but forgot which hand I used when opening for a while)

 

[davper]

Ha, what was in the drink?