Universal Orlando: Lockers

Universal Orlando Lockers - by ffg on Flickr -
Used under Creative Commons Attribution License

Many rides at the Universal Orlando parks do not allow you to bring any loose objects on board (purses, water bottles, backpacks,hats, sunglasses, souvenir bags, etc). Fortunately, Universal provides complimentary lockers at these rides so you do not have to try to spend a day in the parks without any of these items.

Lockers are located near the start of the line queue and provide a limited time for FREE. Since we stayed on site and had the Universal Express front of the line pass, the complimentary time was sufficient. Lockers are locked and unlocked by fingerprint at touch screen kiosks located in the locker bays. Be sure to remember your locker number for when you return.

We visited at one of the busiest times of year (the Thursday/Friday before Easter). There were sufficient lockers at each ride, although once or twice we had to find which section of lockers still had them available. With the crowds, there was often a line of 2-3 people at the kiosk to rent or open your locker

Now for the two downsides of the locker rental:

Be the Mean Mom/Dad
If your child is anything like mine, they will think the locker fingerprint is cool and beg to be the one to do the locker. I'm warning you now, don't give in like I did. Stay strong, be the Mean Mom (or dad) and don't let them. Why do you have to be the mean parent? Because it won't work with a kids fingerprint. It will let you think it has worked by processing the fingerprint and unlocking your locker. But, when you return it will not open. You will have to search out an attendant and have them unlock your locker through their touch screen. We had this problem with my daughter and when we found the attendant another family had the same problem. My original thought was that maybe the kids fingerprints were too small so the reader was confused. But, upon more thought I am wondering if it is a children's privacy issue and they don't save fingerprints under a certain size.

Paid Lockers when you want them
Interestingly the lockers were free when you were not allowed to bring items on rides such as for The Mummy, Men in Black, Spiderman, Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, etc. However on the water rides such as Jurassic Park where you want to protect your items, you had to pay for the lockers. (And don't let your locker close as it will lock itself as opposed to the free lockers that waited for you to push the button. Yes, I had to pay for a locker twice.