No More Fanny Packs on Coasters!

[degrapevine]

Hi, all!
Just back from a stay at the RPR this past Thursday-Saturday, with my DH, best friend, and her hubby.
Great stay, even though DH had an awful cold and I came down with it on Saturday.
The heat (even for us Floridians) was killer - We found ourselves stopping every 10 minutes to find a mister or to duck into a store/restaurant for some relief.
The late afternoon thunderstorms helped it cool off a little (and cleared out the parks some) and FOTL was great.
In all of our past stays, we've always worn fanny packs to the parks.
I carry my wallet, cell phone, tissues, lipstick, gum, hand sanitizer, poncho, etc. in there.
We've never had a problem wearing the packs on Hulk or DD (Mummy has always had a no fanny pack policy), but this time, we were told they weren't allowed.
I appreciate the free lockers (thank goodness they added more to Hulk!), which worked most of the time (had to get help 2x), but with FOTL, we ride and reride so many times that it was a real hassle having to put our packs away every time we wanted to ride.
I'm just wondering if there was something that happened that made IOA change their policy regarding fanny packs.
This won't stop us from going to the parks (PAP for 4 years, love both parks), but it's a minor inconvenience that became a little annoying (you have to carry some stuff with you ... I'd look ridiculous trying to cram all that stuff in my pockets!).
Why the change in policy?
Just looking for some insight.
Oh ... the RPR was great, we went to the Luau (hokey, but entertaining and wonderful food!), and did the AYCE on Thursday (saw alot of wasted food, some sharing, ate 3 meals where I'd normally only have 2 [thanks US/IOA for the extra pounds put on this trip!], but the restaurants were mobbed!).
Thanks in advance!
Rose

 

[bethzfl]

Hm, so what can you carry? Maybe i'll just get something for around my neck to hold our keys and money?

 

[phamton]

I may be wrong, but it sounds like your fanny pack wasn't a small one if it could carry all of that. I think the small fanny packs are still allowed. I'll try to find out.

 

[beattyfamily]

Wow, I never heard of this policy but I haven't been since 2003 so we haven't been on Mummy yet.

That would really be a bummer. I use a fanny pack always for my money and passes and vacline. Mine is the typical Disney logo black fanny pack.

So no fanny packs at all on Mummy and possibly the rollercoasters? I need to know for my November trip!

 

[Eclpz314]

I wore a small fannypack on all the coasters, even the mummy back in July. I did have to make sure to slide it around to the side so the shoulder bar could latch, but was never told I couldn't take it. It would really have been a tight fit for any bigger type of pack.

 

[IMGONNABE40!]

I wore a small fannypack on all the coasters, even the mummy back in July. I did have to make sure to slide it around to the side so the shoulder bar could latch, but was never told I couldn't take it. It would really have been a tight fit for any bigger type of pack.

Same here. Wore mine in July and again on our August trip. Am considering a trip 9/10-9/11 ( ) so would appreciate an update on this. Phamton, or other locals/employees, would you mind updating? Thanks! aw:

 

[mom2of2]

Was just there on Saturday and when we were going onto Mummy the attendant told me to put my fanny pack to the side. I did, no problem

 

[ozarkmom]

I wore a small fannypack on all the coasters, even the mummy back in July. I did have to make sure to slide it around to the side so the shoulder bar could latch, but was never told I couldn't take it. It would really have been a tight fit for any bigger type of pack.

We were there in July and I have what I call the normal size pack and rode the mummy several times. Like you I had to slide it to the side.

 

[MiaSRN62]

We were at the Studios and IOA during the week of Aug 8-11. No fanny packs, no cameras, not even a water bottle allowed on coasters, MIB, Mummy etc. We found it to be a hassle despite the free lockers. It was a mob scene around the lockers (lots of pushing/shoving/people not understanding how to use them......). I don't get it. We felt during the course of the day, we lost alot of time going back and forth to the lockers.

Was just there on Saturday and when we were going onto Mummy the attendant told me to put my fanny pack to the side. I did, no problem

Wonder why such inconsistancy with the staff ? My son couldn't even take a water bottle on Hulk or Dueling Dragons ?

 

[phamton]

No cameras and water bottles has always been a rule on the Coasters. It's too easy for them to become flying missiles. When Mummy first opened, they didn't allow fanny packs but changed that several months ago to allow small fannypacks as long as they weren't so bulky that they interfered with the seat restraint. Small fanny packs are the ones that will only hold a pair of sunglasses or a small wallet. Larger fanny packs have never been allowed.

I just talked to my son who is a ride op at the Mummy and he said that small fanny packs are still allowed, just not the larger ones. He worked all weekend and is working today. He also said nothing had changed and that has always been the rule.

 

[Foladar]

Hmm, friend of mine has a larger fanny pack and has been allowed on Mummy with it, I'll make sure to tell her to make sure she leaves it with a friend when shes going to go on Mummy to make sure they don't complain.

 

[Mrsmom88]

HI everyone: We just got back too and the size of the fanny packs that you can bring on seemed to be determined by the attendants at the ride. My little shoulder bag was ALOT smaller than some of the fanny packs that they let people wear on the Mummy. I can even wear it around my waist but they made me leave the line and put it in a locker. My hubbie was not pleased since they let us through at the beginning of the ride but stopped us just as we were first in line to get on. They really have to standardize the size. Maybe by making a device that you put the pack in and if it doesn't fit inside, off to the lockers you go!!

 

[degrapevine]

Hmmm ... I wonder ...
I wore the same fanny pack I've always worn, not a really big one, just your standard run of the mill size one ($5 at Wal-Mart).
Never had a problem before, always just turned it to the side.
When we got to the Hulk on Thursday, the ride operator outside the Express Line said to put them in a locker.
I asked when the policy had changed and she said Tuesday (?).
Like I said, we've been PAP for 4 years and go about 1x month, usually staying overnight and using FOTL.
I've always worn my fanny pack and never been stopped before.
Maybe I should have asked later at DD ... I just figured it was an overall change in policy.
I was looking in line as we were waiting at both coasters (Hulk and DD - We knew to put them away for Mummy, but wore them with no problem on MIB) and did not see anyone with a fanny pack on, so I think that maybe they were being more strict about enforcing the rule this weekend.
Maybe it's just easier to say no fanny packs at all than to try to figure out which ones are small or large?
Next time we go, I'll be sure to ask at each coaster.
I find it strange that at MGM, you can take all kinds of junk on RNR - Backpacks, merchandise bags, fanny packs.
I completely understand the need for the policy because of safety ... No complaints there - It's just a little bit of a pain when there are changes that affect our "commando" park touring style.
Thanks for all the info ...
Rose

 

[Timon]

Next time we go, I'll be sure to ask at each coaster

The problem with this is that you can ask the CM at the entrance to the ride and he/she will say it's FINE, then after waiting 20 mins in line, you get to the ride and the CM there tells you NO fanny packs! This has happened to us before many times!

Once we rode Hulk with our small fanny packs, no problem...we got off the ride, went right back in line, got the to actual coaster and was told we had to go all the way back and put them in lockers!! I was SO mad!!! Either NO fanny packs at all or they should all get together in a meeting or a memo or something and decide what can go and not go! It's so frustrating!

And it has happend to us every trip! (4 trips in the past 5 years) I guess we will see if it happens again in October!

 

[spewey]

Huh ... I too hope this hasn't changed. My wife wears our park fanny pack, and she has never had a problem at any ride, ever, including the ones at Cedar Point, where they obsess over things like this. And the Mummy was no problem for us, either.

Having said that - are there actually parks out there that allow patrons to carry water bottles on their coasters? Good gosh ...

 

[phamton]

I honestly don't know if the policy has changed at Hulk. All I know is that it hasn't changed at Mummy. Hulk got some new lockers so maybe they have decided to make everyone store everything. I don't know.

As far as some people getting through with larger fanny packs on the Mummy, they don't always catch people especially when it is busy. Also there are often "rescues" as greeters. They don't normally work at the Mummy and are put outside as greeters as they can't run the ride. Often they don't know the rules and can be stricter or even more lenient as far as fanny packs. Also as far as a standard size, the regular mummy workers can usually size a person up and decide if the restraints will fit with a fanny pack. A skinny person can get buy with a slightly larger fanny pack.

I'm just glad that they allow fanny packs because for months after they opened even small fanny packs weren't allowed on the ride.

My little shoulder bag was ALOT smaller than some of the fanny packs that they let people wear on the Mummy.

No shoulder bags are allowed no matter how small they are. Tying it around your waist is also forbidden. Only bags designed to be warn as fanny packs are accepted.

 

[MiaSRN62]

No cameras and water bottles has always been a rule on the Coasters.

I repectfully disagree phatom. Before this most recent trip (Aug 8-11), we were always allowed to bring on water bottles, cameras and handbags etc. I usually stuff my camera and water bottle into my handbag. Never had it been an issue in 1998 or 2000 when we visited Universal/IOA. This was the first time they made us put all of our belongings in a locker---at either park.

 

[phamton]

The year 2000 was 5 long years ago. Islands of Adventure wasn't even open in 1998. Universal Studios had no "real" coasters then. Mummy opened in 2004.

To compare policy from 1998 and 2000 is totally unreasonable. Water bottles and cameras have always been forbidden on Hulk, Mummy, and Dueling Dragons. If you took them on in 2002 it was probably because they were concealed in a bag. I'm sorry you disagree with the policy but I can assure you it is not a recent change.

 

[MiaSRN62]

I thought IOA opened in '98---it must have been '99 then. We were there during the fist year it opened in the Fall.
To compare policies from 5 "long" years ago was just the point. I was just suprised they changed them---adding those free lockers that turn into a mob scene. We had a particularily bad experience at the MIB ones. Pushing and shoving was horrible. Even the staff seemed frustrated.
As for the cameras---yes, they were concealed in my handbag as I stated in my above post. But this year, you can't even put a water bottle or camera in a handbag. It must be placed in those free lockers. My son was not even permitted to take a water bottle on which he had a lanyard for across his shoulder. He had to place it in the lockers. This never, ever occurred in our past trips ('99 or '00 & actually, when I think about it, we were there in Nov '01 as well). I was just observing and noting the "change" that has occurred over the years---that's all. So it might not be a recent change, but it was something we didn't expect to encounter. I've never seen this at any other amusement/theme park I've been to. So this policy had to have been put in place after the Fall of '01. I just didn't see the point of locking things up on attractions such as MIB in particular.

 

[phamton]

IOA opened in the summer of 1999.

The reason for the locker rule at MIB isn't for passenger safety but for ride safety.

The ride was having to shut down several times a day to remove items that fell onto the track. One towel fell on the track and costs several thousands of dollars worth of repair to the car and caused the ride to be shut down half a day. The other reason is because people were too slow in "stowing" their personal items when entering the car. This was causing a slow down in dispatching the rides and making the line wait longer.