Minimalist park touring - suggestions if we don't want to carry a bag?

[ILovePixieDust]

Hi all,

I've been reading about needing to put bags in lockers for multiple rides at universal and what a long process that can be. So we are thinking of ways to tour the park without a bag. What have you done or are you planning to do?

Cargo shorts? How about wristlet type wallets? Fanny packs?

If we carry a water bottle does that need to go in a locker or can we just set it down somewhere?

Looking for others experiences and recommendations for what people do if they don't bring a bag to the parks?

TIA!

 

[gatordoc]

Used to do cargo shorts in lieu of a bag, but now that more rides require you to empty your pockets that strategy isn't as useful.

 

[bchbetha]

Only a few require empty pockets so cargo shorts is still a time saver. But, lockers really aren't that bad. I used a small cross body purse. There's free cups of water and fountains. I wouldn't carry a water bottle.

 

[danielocha30]

the only completely Bag free and locker free option is to bring plenty of money to buy all the parks

 

[nighttowll]

Probably not the cheapest solution, but we use lanyards for the stuff we have to keep with us at all times, and shove everything else in a locker up front.

We try to pack one tote bag with everything we may need. Water bottles (they no longer give the normal size free water cups and the small ones don't cut it for us in the summer) bandaids, medicine, phones, sunglasses, jackets, hats, sunscreen, bug spray, etc.

Then, we get a locker at the front of the park and keep the bag in there all day long. Most of the stuff is "just in case" stuff, so it's not a big deal to go to the front to get it if we need it. We usually change parks a few times and visit Citywalk, so we end up going by the front of the park enough times that isn't too inconvenient to stop and get something out if we need it which isn't very often.

The only things we carry with us are our lanyards with our tickets, EPs, ID, and some type of payment (cash, room key, credit card). We usually don't even take our phones which is nice, almost freeing. We do have phone lanyards as well, so if I really need the phone or need a little more space to carry something else like a pill or something, we use the larger phone lanyards. I normally tuck the lanyard in my shirt when I get on a ride to make sure it can't fly around. Regular lanyards are allowed on all rides. I'm not sure about the phone lanyards. I doubt they let them on the coasters with mettle detectors. I haven't tried it, but I'm thinking probably not because people could take the phone out of the lanyard and injure someone.

 

[ILovePixieDust]

Probably not the cheapest solution, but we use lanyards for the stuff we have to keep with us at all times, and shove everything else in a locker up front.

We try to pack one tote bag with everything we may need. Water bottles (they no longer give the normal size free water cups and the small ones don't cut it for us in the summer) bandaids, medicine, phones, sunglasses, jackets, hats, sunscreen, bug spray, etc.

Then, we get a locker at the front of the park and keep the bag in there all day long. Most of the stuff is "just in case" stuff, so it's not a big deal to go to the front to get it if we need it. We usually change parks a few times and visit Citywalk, so we end up going by the front of the park enough times that isn't too inconvenient to stop and get something out if we need it which isn't very often.

The only things we carry with us are our lanyards with our tickets, EPs, ID, and some type of payment (cash, room key, credit card). We usually don't even take our phones which is nice, almost freeing. We do have phone lanyards as well, so if I really need the phone or need a little more space to carry something else like a pill or something, we use the larger phone lanyards. I normally tuck the lanyard in my shirt when I get on a ride to make sure it can't fly around. Regular lanyards are allowed on all rides. I'm not sure about the phone lanyards. I doubt they let them on the coasters with mettle detectors. I haven't tried it, but I'm thinking probably not because people could take the phone out of the lanyard and injure someone.

The lanyard sounds like good advice! We may try that and go with a small bag as well to keep at the front. Thank you for the helpful response!

 

[ILovePixieDust]

Only a few require empty pockets so cargo shorts is still a time saver. But, lockers really aren't that bad. I used a small cross body purse. There's free cups of water and fountains. I wouldn't carry a water bottle.

Good to know thanks! we may forego that water bottle.

 

[nighttowll]

What we do is get the clear two sided lanyards that seal up (important because everything at Universal sprays water at you, and you don't want stuff getting wet). We put the ticket facing out on one side, the EP facing out on the other side, and our ID / money in the middle. This way we never have to remove the ticket or EP, either can be scanned through the lanyard, and no one can see my ID information or credit card info or anything because it is hidden in between. I also like to use the extra long lanyards or the ones with the extendable part because this way they don't have to be taken off to get scanned.

 

[bumbershoot]

I have never had an issue with long waits for lockers at the relatively few rides that require lockers. I have walked by people giving themselves a long wait because they don't know that there are locker stations further into the locker areas.

I would never go without the items I need (water bottles, sunscreen, a hat, etc etc) to save maybe 10 minutes over the course of a day. I would waste MORE time than that just being sunburned and dehydrated!

You cannot just put a water bottle down somewhere. Loading and unloading are almost always in different spots, and there will be a hundred people walking past while you're on the ride (conservative estimate) so it would be gone, even if you could do that. You would need the locker.

There's a whole thread, with a negative title to it, about lockers and whether or not it's a pain, and IMO the vast majority of us (who go relatively frequently) don't find the lockers to be enough of a pain to not take our stuff in with us.


I do use a lanyard for cards, though. My fave Harry Potter themed lanyard (Ravenclaw house tie) with a Witz brand waterproof hard plastic pouch called the "See it Safe". Got it at REI but it's available elsewhere. ID, room key, Express Pass, admission, credit card, insurance card, and a bit of cash. You can take a lanyard (and eyeglasses) on all rides. Those stay with me while the bag (water, camera, phones, wands for DH and DS, extra clothes, sunscreen) goes in a locker. Easy peasy.

 

[schumigirl]

It`s true, the lockers aren't as bad as some would have you think.

As bumbershoot says, go past the hordes that can congregate at the front of the lockers and you can usually find it a lot quieter towards the rear areas.

We usually just have lanyards with our EP, ticket and room key in, and I have a Kipling Multiple usually.....I carry sunscreen and tissues in it........this year I forgot it and had to use the lockers for the first time on Hulk, Duelling Dragons and RRR........it was fine.

We just buy water as we need it and staying onsite means we don't need to carry much anyway.

 

[tony67]

The lockers at the front of the park on not cheap so it may not be worthwhile for storing just a small bag.

I was not happy about the whole storing things in lockers, I just dont trust that stuff wont get stolen and I'm still not 100% sold on that part of it.
Still in the end it was not a big deal at all - the only ride that is really an issue is Dueling Dragons (or whatever they call it now)
The locker area there is far too small and gets very packed when it's busy.

The other issue is remembering your locker number - it's easy the first few times, but after having many different lockers on a few different rides and a few beers you can loose track...and I saw many people having this issue - luckily I did not but I did have to guess a few times.

Security will open an entire bank of lockers so you can find yours stuff - that part of this concerns me, but I've never heard of anyone scamming that system.

 

[ruthies12]

We like to use runner's belts. here's a link to one on amazon, but you can get them at any fitness or sporting goods store.
https://www.amazon.com/Foot-Forward...883&sr=8-1-spons&keywords=runner's+belt&psc=1

In the runner's belt, I keep my cell phone which has a card holder on the back holding my ID, one credit card, and some cash folded up.

https://www.amazon.com/Cell-Phone-W...=1485270959&sr=8-3&keywords=phone+card+holder

I also keep a small baggy with some Tylenol lol. I usually carry a water bottle in with me in the morning and refill it once, then ditch it and buy drinks after that. I use my cell for pics cause it has a good camera.

With this system, I only have to use a locker 3 times- at the 3 rides that have the metal detectors where they don't allow anything in. the rest of the time I keep my stuff with me. Under a tshirt you can't even see it, though they do also make runner's belts that have water bottle holders if you want to look into that.

 

[angshewas]

PixieDust, I also used one of the Kipling waist bags (may have even heard of them here first from Schumigirl), and I really liked having it. It held my phone, money, and other little things and I never needed a locker. Although I didn't ride the coasters - Hulk, DD, RRR. This is the one I got:

https://www.amazon.com/Kipling-Wome...=1485271239&sr=8-3&keywords=kipling+waist+bag

 

[bumbershoot]

I was not happy about the whole storing things in lockers, I just dont trust that stuff wont get stolen and I'm still not 100% sold on that part of it.

How could things be stolen? You use a finger scan.

Security will open an entire bank of lockers so you can find yours stuff - that part of this concerns me, but I've never heard of anyone scamming that system.

The one time we let ds do the finger scan it wouldn't reopen. We got the locker guy over. He blocked us physically from the locker and I had to describe what was in it. He wanted ID but I had ID in my lanyard and nothing to match in the bag (of course), but I had a picture from that day of DS on the camera that was in the locker and I showed him that.

They are very security conscious there!

 

[tony67]

They are very security conscious there!

YMMV - I saw them open banks of lockers several times over the week I was there.
The person described what was in the locker and the general area it was in and got their bag.
In some cases they asked for ID in some cases they asked to describe what was in the bag in some cases just describing the bag was enough.

It's wouldn't take much effort to determine which security people (in some cases it is really just locker attendant) are a bit more lax..if someone was so inclined I'm guessing they could scam it.
A couple of people working together even more so.

Yeah the odds are pretty low, and it's still far better than the Disney system with a four digit code that I can just watch someone enter.

 

[ILovePixieDust]

Thank you everyone for all the great suggestions and the links to the bags. Going to look into getting one!

 

[orangey]

My suggestion is child swap. It made life with a bag much easier, because whomever was waiting with the baby held the bags. Obviously that doesn't work if you don't have a kid. This coming trip, one of my friends doesn't ride roller coasters. She holds our bags while we're on them.

The first time I went on Forbidden Journey, my phone was in my pocket and much to my dismay it fell out. I could've retrieved it once the park opened the next day, but I was already on my way to Miami for a cruise. US was super nice and FedExed it to my house so it was waiting for me once I got home. Now I either don't bring my phone with me, or put it in a pocket that zips.

Which rides have metal detectors?

 

[schumigirl]

RRR, Hulk and Dragon Challenge are the rides with metal detectors now.

 

[CyndiLooWho]

Overland's Bayliss crossbody bag is the perfect thing if you can find one. it was discontinued a couple of years ago, but you can still find them on ebay and a few other online retailers. This bag converts from a crossbody to a hipster fanny pack with the allowed 3 prong catch. I took it on our last trip to USO and it was excellent. It is my go-to theme park bag, replacing (another discontinued) St John's Bay crossbody that doesn't convert. IF you can find one on ebay, it is worth the price.

Otherwise, all my guys wear cargos to the parks, and they keep the cheap ponchos and their personal phones and gear. I keep everything else we need in my park bag, and the Bayliss carries a LOT. Sunscreen, glasses cleaner & fixit kit, lip balm, band-aids, mini body glide, hair ties, tiny hairbrush, money, hand lotion, wipes, lady supplies - and it's not all that large! (3" x 6" x 7") $50 very well spent.

 

[bumbershoot]

YMMV - I saw them open banks of lockers several times over the week I was there.
The person described what was in the locker and the general area it was in and got their bag.
In some cases they asked for ID in some cases they asked to describe what was in the bag in some cases just describing the bag was enough.

It's wouldn't take much effort to determine which security people (in some cases it is really just locker attendant) are a bit more lax..if someone was so inclined I'm guessing they could scam it.
A couple of people working together even more so.

Yeah the odds are pretty low, and it's still far better than the Disney system with a four digit code that I can just watch someone enter.

I"m not seeing the YMMV part? They are verifying that you know what's in the locker.

What do you think the locker attendants are, but security for the lockers?