One thing that annoyed me at Universal....

[phillymummer]

Okay, for some reason hubby and I got talking about this and I have to get it off my chest to you guys.

One thing that annoyed me at Universal was the lockers areas in the HP sections. No, not having to use them but the amount of people in the locker area. They are small..... and in November they were HOT. Is it really necessary for EVERYONE in your group to go into the locker area and stand around and stuff the locker with your bags? Can't you just sent in one person to stuff the lockers and meet the group outside when you are done? * I understand a single parent with young children.... obviously you're not going leave the little outsides, but couples.... families with older children- pick one person to go the lockers while everyone else stands outside! I couldn't believe how many couples and families I saw standing around lockers, sometimes blocking lockers, just adding to the crowd. I went into the locker area to stow away the bags while my hubby and daughter waited outside. It really wasn't that hard!

Okay... done now. Am I the only one who feels this way? By the way- I did not let this ruin my trip in any way and I would still choose US over Disney for my next vacation. But still.... sometimes it's the little things!

 

[angierae]

From what I've read, it isn't super clear that you can rejoin your party, and people think they need to stay together.

 

[phillymummer]

Oh.. that makes sense. Well then I am here to educate! LOL! Just tp be clear... my family did not enter the line for ride without me.... they waited outside the locker area and we got in line together. After the ride, my hubby and daughter just went into the gift shop while I retrieved the stuff and I found them shopping. After riding gringott's three times (three separate times, three trips to the locker!) we had a designated meeting spot! LOL

 

[pcstang]

Nope, you are not alone. Dragon Challenge is bad too. Unlock your rental and then move to it. Get out of the next persons way! Lol

 

[kohlby]

I found that an issue too. We went the week after t-giving and the park crowds were low. However, the locker areas - especially in the HP areas - were mobbed! I didn't think it was that hard to figure out that you were going to rejoin your party later - but a sign would be helpful. We were there at a time with less Americans though so they really need the sign in several languages.

 

[Planogirl]

Our crowds weren't particularly low for part of the trip and it seemed that people were there from everywhere! I was glad that we managed to explore the parks without bags.

 

[Bluer101]

Don't use lockers, so I cannot comment on your pain.

 

[BagOLaughs]

My partner and I had the exact same thought process as you. We did notice around the HP areas the team members were actually stood outside the lockers at Gringotts advising for one person in the party to go in and the rest to wait outside. But alas... not everyone pays attention.

Either way, its an annoyance and nothing more. Still a great day out

 

[RMulieri]

Don't use lockers, so I cannot comment on your pain.

same..I try to avoid them at all costs..I don't carry much and if I do I use my waistpack ( which is allowed on FJ and gringotts).At the coasters, my daughter doesn't ride ( DH doesn't usually either) so they hold it ..Those locker areas are congested

 

[Jon84]

Don't use lockers, so I cannot comment on your pain.

You are either. Lucky enough to have a bag lady or man to look after your stuff, or, unlucky enough to not be able to ride.

This is a problem at UOR. My wife and I will both have a bag so both enter the area. As soon as we enter we make a strategic choice as to which section to go to if everyone is crowding around the closest ones. Or, split up if it's really busy.

The worst are Forbidden Journey, followed by Gringotts. The others are more open so usually are not a problem

 

[MilitaryMouse]

We were there for 5 days last week and there were TMs at both FJ and DC (and Gringotts) announcing over and over that only one person from each party should go store and grab things from the locker. So looks like Universal is aware and trying to work on the crowded locker area issue. Not a lot of people listened though But some did and it helped!

 

[saskdw]

Okay, for some reason hubby and I got talking about this and I have to get it off my chest to you guys.

One thing that annoyed me at Universal was the lockers areas in the HP sections. No, not having to use them but the amount of people in the locker area. They are small..... and in November they were HOT. Is it really necessary for EVERYONE in your group to go into the locker area and stand around and stuff the locker with your bags? Can't you just sent in one person to stuff the lockers and meet the group outside when you are done? * I understand a single parent with young children.... obviously you're not going leave the little outsides, but couples.... families with older children- pick one person to go the lockers while everyone else stands outside! I couldn't believe how many couples and families I saw standing around lockers, sometimes blocking lockers, just adding to the crowd. I went into the locker area to stow away the bags while my hubby and daughter waited outside. It really wasn't that hard!

Okay... done now. Am I the only one who feels this way? By the way- I did not let this ruin my trip in any way and I would still choose US over Disney for my next vacation. But still.... sometimes it's the little things!

I agree completely. The lockers are mass chaos. We were there at a low crowd time (Dec. 1st-12th) and it was still ridiculous. The instructions on how to use the lockers aren't real clear for first time users either which adds to the amount of people fumbling around.

We were staying onsite so it was easy for us to just not bring any bags with us when we planned on venturing into the HP sections.

 

[Amsonia]

My first time through one of the locker rides, I asked for help from one of the locker attendants. It was the only time I ran across an unhelpful and somewhat condescending Universal employee. Karma came back around to him though, because when my locker wouldn't open when I got off the ride, he was the one who ended up having to help me get it open

 

[cigar95]

At FJ one can access the lockers through the gift shop before entering the line. Does Gringotts have a similar second access point?

 

[kohlby]

We were there for 5 days last week and there were TMs at both FJ and DC (and Gringotts) announcing over and over that only one person from each party should go store and grab things from the locker. So looks like Universal is aware and trying to work on the crowded locker area issue. Not a lot of people listened though But some did and it helped!

That's great! I didn't hear a single person mention it when we were there. We were in the parks from Nov 29 - Dec 5.

Despite the crowded locker areas, we did just fine. I had never used the lockers before and it was easier than I expected most of the time. (It was our first no-stroller trip in over a decade. Before we had kids, we managed to travel without a bag but there's no way we can do it without one small backpack at this stage).