Ride lockers at IOA and Universal

[pinksand]

Going on my first trip to IOA in 3 weeks. I know Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey has forced lockers. As a Disney (and as a West Coaster I'm really a Disneyland) vet, this is new to me - some questions:

--Which other rides have them? Spider-man?
--Is this also the case at Universal Studios?
--What are you forced to put in them?
--Has anyone had any difficulty getting a locker when they needed them?

This sounds like a needless inconvenience, but please give me the scoop. Thanks.

 

[damo]

There are 6 rides...three at each park.

At IOA: Hulk, Dragon Challenge and Forbidden Journey
At USF: Rip Ride Rockit, Mummy, Men In Black

Any loose items must be put in the locker and that includes all bags except fanny packs.

There are generally available lockers. If the line seems long remember that there are several kiosks throughout each locker bay. People don't realize that and all just line up at one kiosks. Go to the back of the locker bay and you are very likely to find a kiosk with an unused or small line.

The way the lockers work is that there are kiosks that control a group of lockers. You must stop at this kiosk and give your fingerscan and it will assign you a nearby locker. When you are done riding, you go back to that kiosk and give your fingerscan again and it will open your nearby locker. People tend to just congregate around the closest kiosk to the front when there are many kiosks located throughout the locker bays.

 

[Thumper_Man's Wife]

We just got back from a trip in December, and I do know that rides like Forbidden Journey, and Dueling Dragons each have specifications that you have to use a locker. There are lockers right next to Dueling Dragons, and you can rent them for free for a short amount of time, I think 20-30 minutes, and then they charge you for any overage. Unfortunately I do not remember what the cost was after, we were pretty much in and out of the rides before the time expired.

Hulk i believe is another one that they ask you not to have anything with you.

Over at Universal, Rip Ride Rocket, The Mummy and MIB are ones I know for sure you have to use a locker. Again, they are free for a certain amount of time and are located right next to the ride itself.

Spiderman I believe we were allowed to take our backpacks since you are in a pretty open car and there aren't any loops or major turns that could make you lose anything.

Basically, the main purpose is to make sure you don't lose anything, i.e., Cell Phones, cameras, wallets, purses, hats...things of that nature.

I've never had a problem getting a locker in any of the requested areas. There are quite a few of them. They have a kiosk for each locker section and you just go to a kiosk and enter in a code you will use to get back into it, sometimes they ask for a fingerprint, then it will give you a locker number. Once you come back, you enter the locker number into the kiosk, enter the code or fingerprint when asked and your locker will re-open. They have quite a few of them available for each ride.

Hope that helps.

 

[bumbershoot]

GAs a Disney (and as a West Coaster I'm really a Disneyland) vet, this is new to me......


This sounds like a needless inconvenience, but please give me the scoop. Thanks.

You know how Radiator Springs Racers goes down ALL the time?

A big reason for that is because people lose their hats or their cellphones or pieces of paper they are holding...whatever leaves the car and goes onto the track *has to be retrieved*. Right then. So the ride goes down, then they have to restart it and resynch it.

This is avoided by not allowing things to go on the rides with you. It's a GOOD thing. Last thing I want is for someone to lose grip on their bag on Forbidden Journey so I have to sit there on my back with a spider or dementor in my face for an hour while they evacuate the ride. Know what I mean?

I now go to Disneyland and world and WISH they made us put stuff in lockers...


Hint...when you approach a bank of ride lockers, go through the crowds to the back of the locker area. There are multiple kiosks (think of the Grizzly lockers, but many more kiosks and many more lockers), and people just don't always think to push their way through the crowds at the front. I've always gotten a shorter wait at a kiosk, or NO wait (but we go at non-crowded times) by doing that.

 

[aubriee]

There are 6 rides...three at each park.

At IOA: Hulk, Dragon Challenge and Forbidden Journey
At USF: Rip Ride Rockit, Mummy, Men In Black

Any loose items must be put in the locker and that includes all bags except fanny packs.

And when damo says all bags except fanny packs, it is exactly that. They make you put even small cross body bags in the lockers (even though there is no way they can come off of you). I know they got me for a small, flat, Vera Bradely cross body mini hipster. If it's not a fanny pack (that won't interfere with the restraints), they make you put it in a locker.

 

[Metro West]

This sounds like a needless inconvenience, but please give me the scoop. Thanks.

It may sound that way but locker storage and no carry on items are for everyone's safety. The attractions that require lockers are not the tame attractions that Disney has and there is a chance something (hat, sunglasses, phone, etc.) could fly off and either injury someone or damage the ride systems. And you're only talking about a few attractions at each park...it shouldn't be too bad. I would recommend cargo shorts with lots of pockets for storing your stuff. That way you wouldn't have to fool with the lockers at all. Just something to think about. Here are the lockers at Hulk and Revenge of the Mummy just to give you an idea of what to expect.

 

[aubriee]

It may sound that way but locker storage and no carry on items are for everyone's safety. The attractions that require lockers are not the tame attractions that Disney has and there is a chance something (hat, sunglasses, phone, etc.) could fly off and either injury someone or damage the ride systems.

You know I haven't thought about it, but every single time I've ridden Forbidden Journey, MiB, or Mummy (don't ride the Hulk, RRR, or Dueling Dragons), I've held my sunglases in my hands. The CMs have seen them I know, as I've never made any attempt to hide them. The friend I usually go with does also. The two trips they called me on the Vera Bradely mini hipster, I've had the sunglasses in my hands both when they saw the mini hipster and also when I walked back through after placing the cross body bag in the locker. I just never think about them. If I'm not wearing them, they are in my hands. I'm always holding them right there on the restraints when the CMs come by checking the restraints. No one has ever said a word. I now wear only cargo shorts to Universal, but do hold my sunglasses in my hands on rides.

 

[shoney]

This was quite a few years ago, but I wore my sunglasses on MIB.

After leaving the ride and walking down the "street", I was talking to DH. He just started laughing. "What are you laughing about?" I wasn't being funny!

He said "you don't notice anything different". I said "no, why?"

He said "take off your glasses"

The lens popped out on the ride! I was walking around like that and I didn't even notice it!!!

Now I always take them off!

 

[damo]

You know I haven't thought about it, but every single time I've ridden Forbidden Journey, MiB, or Mummy (don't ride the Hulk, RRR, or Dueling Dragons), I've held my sunglases in my hands. The CMs have seen them I know, as I've never made any attempt to hide them. The friend I usually go with does also. The two trips they called me on the Vera Bradely mini hipster, I've had the sunglasses in my hands both when they saw the mini hipster and also when I walked back through after placing the cross body bag in the locker. I just never think about them. If I'm not wearing them, they are in my hands. I'm always holding them right there on the restraints when the CMs come by checking the restraints. No one has ever said a word. I now wear only cargo shorts to Universal, but do hold my sunglasses in my hands on rides.

I guess sunglasses won't stop a ride. They'd just get squished...where a bag can get entangled. If you look at the mesh that is just below Hulk after the launch, you will usually see a few pairs of sunglasses in there.

 

[DorianDonP]

There are also lockers outside of Ripsaw Falls.

I haven't brought a camera the last few times, and I would just put everything in my pockets before boarding a ride. Didn't use the lockers at all.

 

[damo]

There are also lockers outside of Ripsaw Falls.

I haven't brought a camera the last few times, and I would just put everything in my pockets before boarding a ride. Didn't use the lockers at all.

Those lockers aren't free.

 

[Armadillo4]

This question is about the size of the ride lockers. I've used most of the ride lockers in my previous trips and have only noticed one size. My DSLR camera bag and a sweatshirt fits perfectly in them. However, for our upcoming trip, I'll be traveling with my sister and her family. With two kids, one of the parents has a larger backpack for their camera, jackets, and water bottles. I remember seeing another family struggle trying to fit a similar sized backpack in the ride lockers on my last trip.

Are there any large ride lockers, or are larger sizes only available with the rental/paid lockers at the front of the park? In case their backpack doesn't fit a ride locker, we may separate out the contents and use two lockers, but it would be handy if there was a larger size for the ride lockers. Thanks for any insight anyone might have!

 

[ukool]

Are thier signs outside the rides you cant take bags on? Im likely to forget to put things in lockers, and i dont fancy queing and finding out i need to head back to a locker!

 

[damo]

This question is about the size of the ride lockers. I've used most of the ride lockers in my previous trips and have only noticed one size. My DSLR camera bag and a sweatshirt fits perfectly in them. However, for our upcoming trip, I'll be traveling with my sister and her family. With two kids, one of the parents has a larger backpack for their camera, jackets, and water bottles. I remember seeing another family struggle trying to fit a similar sized backpack in the ride lockers on my last trip.

Are there any large ride lockers, or are larger sizes only available with the rental/paid lockers at the front of the park? In case their backpack doesn't fit a ride locker, we may separate out the contents and use two lockers, but it would be handy if there was a larger size for the ride lockers. Thanks for any insight anyone might have!

The free lockers are all the same size. Larger lockers can be found at the front of the parks for a fee.

Are thier signs outside the rides you cant take bags on? Im likely to forget to put things in lockers, and i dont fancy queing and finding out i need to head back to a locker!

Yes, there are signs and if a TM sees you with a bag, they will direct you to the lockers.

 

[Illania]

It was mentioned that the lockers are free for the first thirty minutes. During busy times (I'll be going in mid June) is the free time period on the lockers extended? If not, what is the cost after thirty minutes?

Thanks!

 

[bumbershoot]

It will tell you how long it's free based on what is going on. it's not 30 minutes all the time.

 

[bartleby1]

What about regular eyeglasses? Do I need to put them in a locker? I can't see without them!

 

[Lynne G]

What about regular eyeglasses? Do I need to put them in a locker? I can't see without them!

My kids wore their glasses without issue on all the rides. However, if you think yours may fly off, there are eyeglass straps that are inexpensive.

 

[Herbie]

As new "converts" we were surprised by the free lockers , and came to appreciate them...yes the ones at FJ get busy, but it is a great thing that you can use them for free...

Can you imagine Disney having free lockers?


" im sorry ma'am, but your stroller and ecv will not fit into the locker........"

 

[bartleby1]

My kids wore their glasses without issue on all the rides. However, if you think yours may fly off, there are eyeglass straps that are inexpensive.

Thx - at Disney I wear them right up until the ride starts and then throw them in my little cross body bag but from what I am reading here, universal doesn't allow a crossbody bag on the rides. I guess I'll have to look into getting a strap for them.