So, what exactly is a "bag" at US/IOA?

[CMudd23]

Hi all, We're heading down for our very first trip to US and IOA the 2nd week of May and I've heard/read that bringing bags in is a big no-no. So, is a really sexy fanny pack considered a bag? Or a smallish over the shoulder purse? My DH and I are minimalists when it comes to carrying stuff but I still need sunscreen and hand wipes!

Thanks in advance!

 

[torinsmom]

You can bring any bag in, but there are some rides you can't bring bags on. In Universal, those are Men in Black, Revenge of the Mummy and the RRR, I believe. In IOA, I am not sure of all the rides like that; I know Forbidden Journey and Hulk are two.

I think you can swear a fanny pack on them, but other bags you will have to put in a locker(free while you ride)

 

[camsmomE]

I take a giant backpack (I have a toddler) and we've never had a problem. Tons of people have bags. When it cones to going on the rides where you cannot take anything on with you, the supply very small lockers for free.

 

[the Dark Marauder]

Two words: cargo shorts. They are your friend

But if you do bring a bag/purse/hip pack/backpack/whatever, know this:

If it fits in a pocket, it's fine. If it's a hip/fanny pack, it should be worn around your waist and is permissible as long as it does not interfere with the ride restraints. If it's anything else, you'll have to put it in the FREE lockers at the following:
Hulk
Dragons
Forbidden Journey
Rockit
Mummy
Men in Black

You can bring bags on everything else. They may get wet on the water rides, so make sure you have some ziploc bags for your valuables (phone, wallet)

 

[CMudd23]

Thanks for the great answers.

For the rides that provide lockers, are the lines any longer if you have to use a provided locker? I thought I read somewhere on the board that it's quicker if you don't have to use one. I know we can't do everything, but I want to maximize our time if possible.

Thanks again for all the info.......

 

[ducky_love]

Normally it takes about 10 minutes to get your stuff in a locker at rides... but since FJ is SO popular it can take 30+ minutes. That adds a big chunck of time to your wait. Sometimes it makes more sense to split up and leave half your party holding bags rather than take all the time to get a locker.

 

[Bluer101]

Two words: cargo shorts. They are your friend

This is what we do.

The only time we don't is when we want to do the water rides. Then its suits and sandals. We put some $$$$ in our lanyards with our passes and hotel cards.

 

[Timmy Boy]

Also, remember that the water rides do provide lockers, however those lockers are OPTIONAL. All bags CAN be taken on the water rides. The lockers are just there for convenience. Also note that since those lockers are not required, they will charge you.

 

[Sehsun]

FYI in case anyone was wondering, when I visited US/IOA last week, the free lockers at the rides were free for the first 35 minutes.

But after reading past threads, I have learned that the free locker time can vary according to the ride wait times.

 

[Quartermistress]

How big are the lockers? Will they fit a pretty standard size backpack? Could you fit anything else in there with the backpack?

Could 2 people share a locker (would be a backpack and medium size purse) so we could get in and out faster than finding 2 lockers?

I've never used a locker at Universal and I only know the size of the lockers at Disney's Sum of All Thrills to compare with. Are the Universal lockers comparable?

TIA!

 

[Sehsun]

Quartermistress,
I don't know the exact dimensions of the lockers, but they are different than the ones at The Sum of All Thrills at EPCOT.

The lockers should be able to fit a standard-size backpack, provided you can squish it a tiny bit upon placing it inside (the opening is square-sized). I believe you would be able to fit a purse in there with the backpack. This would be a terrific time-saving idea. I had more than enough room for my medium-size bag, and if I remember correctly, my bag used up like 25% of the room in the locker.

 

[mareed]

Normally it takes about 10 minutes to get your stuff in a locker at rides... but since FJ is SO popular it can take 30+ minutes. That adds a big chunck of time to your wait. Sometimes it makes more sense to split up and leave half your party holding bags rather than take all the time to get a locker.

I've read this repeatedly, but still don't understand why it takes so much longer. Can someone explain it to me?

I've been to US and know how the ride lockers work, and there was once at Fire & Ice where the lockers appeared to be full, and we sort of had to hang around and wait until someone came and got their stuff so that a locker was freed up, but it wasn't an organized type of wait in that case, and there may have been some open at other stations, but with people constantly using them, it was difficult to tell. But the rental stations that didn't have someone actively using it had a message up saying they were full.

 

[cegreenf]

Hi- I was also wondering about the bag situation at IOA/US. I normally bring a small drawstring bag (the thin, small bags)

Would this be an issue on the rides? There wouldn't be much stuff in it, so maybe it would be able to roll up and fit in cargo shorts?

 

[Sehsun]

I've read this repeatedly, but still don't understand why it takes so much longer. Can someone explain it to me?

I guess it's due to the popularity of FJ & more lockers are being used? Sometimes the machines have issues with reading some guests' fingerprints, so that adds to the wait.

Hi- I was also wondering about the bag situation at IOA/US. I normally bring a small drawstring bag (the thin, small bags)

Would this be an issue on the rides? There wouldn't be much stuff in it, so maybe it would be able to roll up and fit in cargo shorts?

I have read (on the DIS) that only the fanny packs are allowed - not even cross-body bags. These threads might help a little bit. I have one of the bags you are talking about. To be on the safe side, if you can roll it up and put it in one of your cargo shorts pockets that would be terrific!

 

[the Dark Marauder]

I guess it's due to the popularity of FJ & more lockers are being used? Sometimes the machines have issues with reading some guests' fingerprints, so that adds to the wait.

Most fingerprint "issues" are caused by the person, not the computer.

Gently pressing your index finger on the scanner is by far the best/simplest method. Jamming your finger on the scanner, moving your finger, etc often cause bad scans.
Another "issue" is going to the wrong locker station. I cannot count how many times I've seen someone go to station "10" when their locker was rented from station "11".
The other common issue is reopening. Many times someone will reopen a rented locker because they forgot to put something in it. For whatever reason, they ignore the red warning screen that says that the rental will be terminated and the locker reassigned. They just open the locker, put their stuff in, and re-close it. Then someone else will come along, get assigned their locker, be like "OMG, there's someone's stuff in here!" close the locker (which is now bound to their fingerprint and only a locker attendant can override this), and try again to get an empty locker.

 

[aubriee]

Hi- I was also wondering about the bag situation at IOA/US. I normally bring a small drawstring bag (the thin, small bags)

Would this be an issue on the rides? There wouldn't be much stuff in it, so maybe it would be able to roll up and fit in cargo shorts?

When I was there this past Oct we saw a CM tell a young lady to either put her tiny wristlet in a locker or in her pocket, since the only type of bags allowed were small fanny packs with three prongs on them. Back in early Sept I wasn't allowed to carry on a very flat, small crossbody Vera Bradley mini hipster either. With it being small, flat, and crossbody, no way was that little bag going anywhere, but it still wasn't allowed. A few days later, I got on carrying most of my stuff in a pair of cargo shorts, but had a tiny Vera Bradley ID case on a lanyard around my neck. I was told to either put it in my shorts pocket or stuff it under my blouse so it wouldn't fly up.

These are the type bags I'm talking about:
http://www.verabradley.com/product/.../defaultColor/Very+Berry+Paisley/p/154832.uts
http://www.verabradley.com/product/Mini-Hipster/154799/defaultColor/Baroque/p/154799.uts
http://www.verabradley.com/product/Zip-ID-Case/154781/defaultColor/Very+Berry+Paisley/p/154781.uts
http://www.verabradley.com/catalog/search.cmd?form_state=searchForm&keyword=lanyard&x=35&y=14
Both the wristlet and ID case with lanyard had to go in a pocket and the mini hipster wasn't allowed on at all.

 

[cera624]

I have an added question here: we are going for our first trip to Universal & IoA - leaving next Fri!! I am reading about not bringing bags - but on the other hand bring a bag with a change of clothes or shoes for the water rides. Do most people plan a special day for the water rides? Or do you cover the camera & phones, etc in your pockets in ziplocks? Trying to figure out what to do since I hear the water rides there are very WET! and there is nothing worse than walking around with wet socks & tennis shoes...
Thanks!

 

[mtblujeans]

We usually do plan one day we ride the 'wet rides'. We wear sandals, no socks, and dress in layers. The boys would wear swim trunks and a t-shirt and I would wear a swim suit under a t-shirt and shorts. Clothes that usually dry quickly. We usually go to Orlando in the warmer months and being wet was welcome in the heat. We would take one backpack and everyone would put anything they didn't want to get wet into ziplock bags, as previously posted, and put the bags into the backpack. The backpack may or may not get wet but anything of value would be kept safe. Don't forget a comb on 'water ride day'.