I’m looking into planning a trip to Orlando, and one of the details that keeps coming up is how to handle belongings while at the theme parks. It’s something I’m finding really helpful to understand as I map out our days. I’ve gathered some information on the locker systems at Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure, Epic Universe, and Volcano Bay. This seems like a good way to make sure we can enjoy the rides without worrying about our bags.
Different Locker Options
Universal Orlando offers a few main types of lockers to help you keep your items safe. I’ve found there are daily rental lockers that you can use for the whole day, and then there are lockers right at the rides. It’s good to know the difference so you can choose the best option for your family based on how long you’ll need to store things.
All-Day Rental Lockers
These are great if you want to have a central spot to store your belongings for the entire day. You can rent these at the front of Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure, and Epic Universe. Volcano Bay also has daily rental lockers, which are a bit different as they are specific to the water park.
For the main theme parks, the daily rental lockers come in two sizes. The larger ones are about 12 inches by 13 inches by 16.9 inches, and they start at around $15 per day. The family-sized ones are a bit bigger, measuring 12 inches by 16.25 inches by 16.9 inches, and they start at about $20 per day. I’m planning to check the exact prices closer to our trip, as these change.
At Universal Studios Florida, I found there are locker areas in the Production Central part of the park. When you go through the entrance, you can find them to the far left or far right. For Islands of Adventure, there’s a set of daily rental lockers just to the left inside the park entrance, near where you can rent strollers and wheelchairs. Epic Universe has its daily lockers in Celestial Park, near the front of the park and also at concierge kiosks in areas like SUPER NINTENDO WORLD and How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk.
Paying for these all-day lockers seems pretty straightforward. You can usually scan your park ticket or use photo validation at a kiosk. After selecting your size and paying, you get a receipt with your locker number. Once you use it, you can open and close it as many times as you need throughout the day. To get your things at the end of the day, you go back to the same kiosk and let them know you’re making your final retrieval.
Ride-Specific Lockers
Many of the most popular rides have lockers available right at the entrance. This is super helpful because some rides don’t allow any bags or loose items. I’m looking into this because with kids, we always have more stuff than we think!
There are two kinds of ride lockers: some are free for the duration of your ride, and others you pay for upfront.
Complimentary Ride Lockers
For rides like The Incredible Hulk Coaster, Jurassic World VelociCoaster, and Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure, you have to store all your belongings. They even have metal detectors before you get in line. The only thing you can usually keep is a park ticket on a lanyard, and they might ask you to tuck it under your shirt. These lockers are free for the time it takes you to queue and ride.
Other rides like Revenge of the Mummy, Men in Black Alien Attack, Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts, and Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey also have lockers available. While you can usually bring a fanny pack if it fits the safety restraints, it’s best to check with a team member. These lockers are also free for the ride time, but they can have different sizes.
I noticed that at some rides, like Jurassic World VelociCoaster and Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment, the lockers are located inside the queue. There are standard sizes, which are generally free, and larger sizes which might have a small fee, around $3 upfront. It’s important to know that if you go over the allotted ride time, you could be charged extra, about $3 for every 30 minutes, up to a maximum of $25. You usually don’t need to put money down for the free ones, but if you go over time, you’ll need cash or a card to get your items back.
These smart locker systems automatically track how long you are on the ride, including some extra cushion time. I’m trying to keep this in mind for planning our ride times. They use a ticket-based system, so you scan your park ticket to open the locker. I’ve also read that at Epic Universe, they are starting to use facial recognition technology for lockers, which sounds interesting, though ticket scanning will still be an option.
When you look for a locker bank, there are lights to show if they are available: green means plenty of lockers, yellow means limited, and red means it’s full or closed. I’m planning to send just one person from our group to find a locker to help keep the areas less crowded, especially in popular spots like The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.
Prepaid Ride Lockers
There are a few rides where you are allowed to bring your belongings, but they offer lockers if you prefer. These are mostly the water rides, like Dudley Do-Right’s Ripsaw Falls, where you and your stuff might get wet. The lockers here are not free and depend on the size. I’m looking at prices around $5 for smaller ones and $6 for larger ones. These usually give you about 90 minutes, and going over that time comes with extra charges.
Even though you can technically bring your bags on these rides, for expensive items like phones or cameras, I think paying for a locker is a good idea to keep them dry and safe. I’m remembering to check if the lockers are under cover, as they aren’t always fully waterproof.
Volcano Bay Lockers
At Volcano Bay, the water park, they have lockers available in three sizes: small, medium, and large. The prices I’ve seen start around $14 for small, $20 for medium, and $25 for large. These are located in several spots around the park. I’ve read that the locker station between Bambu and Maku Puihi is sometimes a bit less busy, so that might be a good spot to try.
If you rent out a cabana or premium seating at Volcano Bay, a locker is often included, which is a nice perk. These lockers are usually accessed with a wristband, similar to how you pay for things around the park. I’m making a note to definitely use a locker inside Volcano Bay if we spend the day there, rather than trying to use one outside the park.
Payment at Volcano Bay can be done with a credit card, your hotel room key through an attendant, or cash at a kiosk. Once you have your locker, you can open and close it as many times as you need throughout the day by using your wristband. It’s quite convenient for a water park day.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if I forget to stow my items for a ride?
I’ve learned that if you realize you have items you need to store after you’ve already joined the queue for a ride that requires lockers, you’ll likely have to leave the line to go back and get a locker. Once you open a ride locker, it usually counts as your one use, so you might need to get a new one if you have to go back. It’s definitely easier to plan ahead and use the lockers before you get too far into the queue.
I’m making sure to look for signs near the rides that indicate locker areas. If I miss them, I’ll ask a team member. It’s helpful to know that if you have to go back, you will lose your place in line.
What if I forget my locker number?
If you forget your locker number for a ride locker, you can usually ask a team member near the locker area or at the attraction entrance. They can help you find your locker. I’m also planning to scan my ticket at any locker bank, as the screen might show which bank your locker is in. It’s a good idea to tell someone in your group your locker number, too, so at least one person remembers it.
I’m considering taking a picture of my locker if I’m allowed to bring my phone on the ride, but I’ll confirm that first. It’s reassuring to know that park staff can help if you lose track of your locker details.
What if my items don’t fit in one ride locker?
For the complimentary ride lockers, I found out that you can use multiple lockers if you need to. So, you don’t have to try and squeeze everything into one small space. However, if you are using lockers that require payment, you will have to pay for each one you use.
This is helpful to know, especially when planning for both kids’ items and our own. I’m going to try to pack as efficiently as possible, but it’s good to have options if we have a lot of gear.
Do we need lockers for Child Swap?
If you’re using the Child Swap service on an attraction, you don’t always need to use the lockers. You just need to let the ride attendant know you’re using Child Swap. However, if you have a lot of bags, you might still want to use the lockers to make it easier for the adult who is waiting with the child, so they aren’t burdened with too many items.
I’m trying to balance convenience with practicality. For us, with Emma being younger, Child Swap is something we’ll likely use, so I’ll factor this into our locker decisions.
What do I do if the lockers are too crowded?
I’ve read that the lockers at the front of the banks or areas tend to be the busiest. My plan is to head towards the back of the locker area to find more open kiosks and, hopefully, available lockers. Sending just one person from our family to find a locker also helps to keep the entrance areas clearer.
I’m also keeping in mind that during busy times, some locker areas might get a bit packed. It’s good to have a strategy for navigating these busy spots, like looking for less crowded sections or sending one designated person.
Will my things be safe if it rains?
While most of the lockers at Universal Orlando are located under covered areas, they aren’t guaranteed to be waterproof. I’m planning to opt for lockers that are definitely under a roof. For extra protection, I might wrap important items in plastic bags or waterproof gear, especially if we plan on visiting during a time of year when rain is more common.
I’m looking at weather forecasts closer to our travel dates to help with this planning. It’s always better to be a little overprepared when it comes to protecting electronics and other sensitive items.
What about medical supplies?
If you have medical supplies that you need to keep with you while waiting in line for a ride that requires lockers, you should speak with a team member at the attraction entrance. They can help make accommodations for you. I’m sure they are used to assisting guests with these types of needs and can offer guidance.
I’m really glad to see that Universal has plans in place for guests with medical needs. It makes the planning feel more secure for our family.
Where should I rent a locker for park hopping?
If you plan to visit Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure on the same day, it’s worth thinking about where to keep your main belongings. If you’re spending the whole day at one park, a locker inside that park makes sense. But if you’re moving between parks, you might want to consider a locker at the park you’ll visit in the evening.
I’m thinking about this carefully: if we start at Universal Studios Florida and end at Islands of Adventure, maybe dropping our main items in a locker outside Islands of Adventure before we even enter Universal Studios Florida could work. That way, our stuff is already in the park we’ll be in at the end of the day.
What You Can Bring
I’ve been looking at Universal’s policy on what to bring into the parks to help pack smart. They have a list of acceptable items and prohibited items.
Acceptable Items
You can bring bottled water, up to two liters. Small snacks that don’t need heating are also allowed. Any food that is needed for medical purposes, including nutritional supplements, is permitted. Baby food and formula are also fine. They also allow soft-sided insulated bags that are not larger than 8.5 inches wide, 6 inches high, and 6 inches deep.
This is great for me, as I like to have some snacks on hand for the kids, and Sofia, my older daughter, has a specific dietary need, so being able to bring her food is very helpful. I’m making sure our snack bag fits within these dimensions.
Prohibited Items
Items that are not allowed include glassware and glass containers, as well as open containers of alcohol. You also can’t bring in hard-sided coolers or soft-sided coolers larger than the specified dimensions. Picnic lunches and any food that needs heating or refrigeration are also prohibited. Folding chairs are not allowed either.
Other prohibited items include weapons or anything that looks like one, illegal substances, and clothing that could be considered dangerous, offensive, or that falsely represents employment by Universal. Anything that Universal personnel deem inappropriate or harmful is also not permitted. I’m remembering that all bags will be checked.
I’m trying to pack light and smart for our trip to Orlando in 2026. Understanding the locker system and what we can bring helps me feel more prepared for a fun and easy family vacation. For more ideas on what to do and see, you can explore our top things to do in Orlando.
I hope this information helps you plan your visit, too. It’s been a big help for me as I map out our family’s adventure.
