the wand/locker dilemma

[qv09vvp]

I've been thinking I would love to take my full size 35mm camera but I wanted to avoid using the lockers as it takes time. Now DD20 wants (& so do I) to get a wand at Ollivanders....but doesn't this mean we will need to do the lockers afterall??

thanks in advance for your help!

 

[cemeb4dk]

Depending on the rides your doing, some you are not allowed to have anything in your pockets. So lockers are unavoidable if your doing all rides, or unless you carry nothing but your landyard. Lockers had a few minutes at most, just 1 of you go in with all the stuff and put in locker. What causes the bottlenecks is when a family of 5 is standing in front of 1 locker getting their stuff in our out.

 

[schumigirl]

You'll have to use the lockers.

But they aren't half as bad as some make them out to be.......head to the back usually......as pp stated the issue is usually a whole squad of people hanging around one locker......or those that let their little offspring use the locker and then can't remember what finger they used........

We used them more this year and had no issues at all, takes seconds to deposit and retrieve items.

 

[bchbetha]

They really aren't that big of a deal. Nothing I'd change my plans to avoid! I'll give you that the HP ones are extra congested but really not that bad. Get your wands and have fun.

 

[bumbershoot]

For the relatively few rides that require a locker, it's worth the time to have your nice camera and for them to have their fun with a wand.

 

[mya1k9]

Are The Lockers free??

 

[schumigirl]

The lockers for rides that you need to store items are free for the time you need to ride, you do get plenty of time.

Lockers you pay for are at the water rides, and the main lockers at the entrance if you need them.

 

[qv09vvp]

Thanks everybody!! I had read someone's report and they said the lockers ate up most of their day, so I appreciate your feedback. Our day just dropped to attendance "2" according to tourist plans (FJ is going to be closed ) so I'm going to go with the good camera & get the wands!!!!

 

[nighttowll]

What we try to do is use the wands first thing in the morning. Then we purchase something in one of the shops and send the wands with our purchase up front for pickup later. This way we don't have to carry them around. I'm more worried about breaking the wand than anything. They are such an awkward size and shape to carry around. If you aren't buying interactive wands you want to play with, you can always send the wands straight to pickup when you buy them. However, it really isn't too awful to have to use a locker a couple of times, more an inconvenience than anything.

 

[bumbershoot]

Thanks everybody!! I had read someone's report and they said the lockers ate up most of their day, so I appreciate your feedback. Our day just dropped to attendance "2" according to tourist plans (FJ is going to be closed ) so I'm going to go with the good camera & get the wands!!!!

Good

While it can get crowded at lockers, it's almost certainly a perspective thing to say it took half of their day. Or they just weren't doing it right lol.

And since there are relatively few rides that require lockers, as long as you split it up and don't just go on locker-required ride after locker-required ride, it won't feel so bad.

 

[Disxuni]

Typically, if I plan on doing any rides that require lockers for the day and if I get there early, I typically do the rides that require everything to be stowed away first thing, or at least relatively early.

Some of the locker areas can feel a little claustrophobic to me with the amount of people who can get in there. If it's relatively early it isn't much of a problem. Also, The Dragon Challenge while is outside (the locker area), it does not have nearly the amount of lockers of other rides that have a requirement to stow all belongings away (as this was made a requirement years after the ride was built), so I'd especially recommend doing that ride first (if you're planning on going on it), as you might be spending more time waiting to get to a locker than actually wait in line if you decide to go on that attraction later in the day.

Also, a thing to note is that the wands with the box do not fit well (or not at all depending on the wand) from what I heard, but the wands itself do. Someone could stay with the wands? However, if all the people go on the ride I guess that is a problem. Unless they'll do something like child swap, or in this case wand swap.

 

[bchbetha]

If you're staying on site, have your wand box and bag sent back to the hotel. Otherwise, you can have them sent to the exit to get at the end of your visit.

 

[darnheather]

Which rides require lockers?

 

[soniam]

Which rides require lockers?

Hulk, Gringott's, Forbidden Journey, Dragon Challenge, Men in Black, Mummy, probably Rip Ride Rocket, not sure about Fear Fall

 

[soniam]

One suggestion about using the lockers is to have one person in the group get the locker, and only 1 locker, if everything fits. The more people in the locker area and the more lockers used, the more time it will take. We usually have the other people go ahead and get in line, especially at Forbidden Journey, and meet us. If the line is moving faster than we thought, then we just hang out and wait for the locker gopher for a bit.

We did have one experience last Spring when there were no lockers available at Gringott's. This was after the Mardi Gras parade, the week before the week of Good Friday. DH had to wait a while. DS and I were waiting for him in the single rider line forever

 

[darnheather]

My kids want to see the queue for Gringotts but don't want to ride. Do we still have to use the locker?

 

[nighttowll]

There isn't a tour only option for Gringotts. It is doubtful they will let you in with it, even if you tell them you aren't riding, but it doesn't hurt to ask.

You can always visit the goblins and "open an account" or exchange money without entering the ride line. The goblin money exchange is in a separate place. That might be more fun. The goblins will interact and talk with you.

 

[NYDisneyKid]

You can walk all the way through and not ride

 

[TheConsciousness]

There isn't a tour only option for Gringotts. It is doubtful they will let you in with it, even if you tell them you aren't riding, but it doesn't hurt to ask.

You can walk all the way through and not ride

Sounds like we've got ourselves a Mexican standoff.
Forbidden Journey definitely lets you walk-through-only, but I can't remember about Gringotts.

 

[ExpatDisneyLover]

Here now and honestly I really like the lockers - they are not such a big deal - maybe I have waited a minute or two tops if even that. The process is super streamlined - even when I forgot my locker number because they are finger print connected - the locker found me so to speak. I actually think they are an advantage rather than a disadvantage.

Not sure - but you may need to use the locker to walk the queue at Gringotts.