Universal Studios is different than Disney World because they require guests to use lockers on many of the rides.
If you are new to Universal Studios theme parks, or haven’t been in quite a while, you will need to know this essential locker information for Universal Studios Orlando.
All prices are from time of publication in June 2023.
Does Universal Studios Have Lockers?
Yes, Universal Studios does have lockers in their two theme parks and Volcano Bay water park. There are five different types of lockers:
- Small lockers at rides that are free to use
- Larger lockers at rides for a fee
- Small lockers at water rides that require a fee
- Large lockers for a fee
- Family-sized lockers for a fee
Do I Have to Use a Locker at Universal Studios?
You don’t have to use a locker at Universal Studios, but you will need to plan in advance if you do not want to use one.
Many rides require you to have no loose personal belongings that could fly off during the ride. If you do not have bags, purses, wands, water bottles, etc. then you don’t have to use a locker to store them.
Most of the attractions that have lockers will allow you to bring a fanny pack on Universal rides (here are our favorite fanny packs for Universal Studios) so that you can keep your small items with you. If you can fit all of your items in a fanny pack that you are wearing, then you won’t need to use the lockers (except for 3 rides, which are shared below).
If you have a stroller, electric scooter or wheelchair that you are using and leaving behind at the attraction entrance, you can leave your belongings in the vehicle if you choose.
When using child swap, your items can be left with the person staying with the kids.
Locker locations can be busy and hectic, plus it will take time to open, store your items and retrieve your items afterwards. Lockers are not mandatory, but you will need to limit the items you have with you to avoid them.
Insider Tip: Send only one person to the locker area with your bags. The locker stations are way too crowded and can be very overwhelming with the amount of people trying to hurriedly stash their belongings and leave to get on the ride.
Be sure to see Universal Studios’ Bag Policy for more details on what you can and can’t bring into the theme parks.
How Much Are Lockers at Universal Studios?
Lockers at Rides
Small lockers located at many of the attractions are free to use only for the duration of your wait time and the attraction time.
If you leave items in the locker longer than the amount of time you are on the ride, you will need to pay a fee of $3 per half hour.
Do not stress about being charged a fee for the small lockers if you honestly are only using them while on the ride. Your locker will be free for a certain amount of time that includes the posted wait time, the length of the ride, and an extra bit of time after that (around 15 minutes or so). Locker attendants are found at each locker location so if you were on the ride longer than expected, ask them to override the charges.
It is very rare that you would exceed the allotted time frame! So don’t stress about it!!!
For example, if the line for a ride is 60 minutes long and the ride itself is 5 minutes, you will be given at least 65 minutes of free use, plus additional time to walk off the ride and return to the lockers.
While you do not need to scan a credit card or insert cash to use the free lockers, if you go beyond the allotted time frame, you will need to pay to get your belongings out of the locker.
If your items cannot fit inside a free locker (for instance, you have a drink cup that you don’t want to empty), you can pay $2 for a larger locker. These lockers are at the ride and are not to be used all day long.
Lockers at Water Rides
Ironically, the rides where your belongings will probably get wet are not the rides where you can get free lockers.
You will need to pay a fee to keep your items from getting soaked. Or use our tips for keeping your belongings dry.
Standard lockers at water rides cost $4 for 90 minutes, with $3 for each additional hour.
Large lockers at water rides cost $5 for 90 minutes, with $3 for each additional hour.
Large, All Day Lockers
There are two different sizes of lockers that you can rent all day long:
- Large lockers are $12 per day
- Family size lockers are $15 per day
This is a one-day rate and is not a per-hour rate.
The rates are not pro-rated depending on when you start using the lockers. You will not get a cheaper price by renting later in the day than first thing in the morning.
Volcano Bay Locker Price
Volcano Bay’s lockers all come with a fee. There are 3 sizes:
- Mini: $10 per day
- Regular: $16 per day
- Large: $20 per day
What Size Are the Free Lockers?
The small lockers outside of attractions at Universal Studios Orlando are 14 inches X 5.5 inches X 16.9 inches.
What will fit inside the free lockers?
These lockers are roomy enough to put a slim bag or purse inside. That is why we suggest these bags for Universal Studios because most of them will fit in the free lockers.
However, a large bag will not fit.
Water bottles and Universal Studios’ refillable cups will often fit inside, but they must be laid on their side. Which can be a problem if the bottle is filled with a liquid and the lid is not on tight. Universal’s reusable cups do not have a tight lid and must be emptied every time you store them in a free locker.
Insider Tip: You will need to remember your locker number! Type it into your notes section on your phone or take a photo of the locker number so that you remember!
Will Wands Fit Inside the Free Lockers?
Yes, most Harry Potter wands will fit inside the free lockers at Universal Studios Orlando.
What Size Are the Large Lockers at Universal Studios?
There are two different types of large lockers at Universal Studios:
- Large lockers: 12 inches X 13 inches X 16.9 inches
- Family-size lockers: 12 inches X 16.25 inches X 16.9 inches
Where are the Lockers Located?
Large lockers are located near the entrance to Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure in the following areas:
Universal Studios Florida
These two locations are located on the far right and far left from the entrance.
- Just inside the front gate in the Production Central area, near the Studio Audience Center (family size lockers are located behind the restrooms in this area)
- Near the exit turnstiles, close to the stroller and wheelchair rental area (large lockers only, not family size)
Islands of Adventure
- Just inside the front gate to the left near the stroller and wheelchair rental (large and family size lockers in the same location)
Small, single-time use lockers are found outside of rides that require you to store personal belongings. These locations are:
Universal Studios Florida
- Revenge of the Mummy
- MEN IN BLACK Alien Attack
- Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit
- Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts
Islands of Adventure
- The Incredible Hulk Coaster
- Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey
- Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure
- Jurassic World VelociCoaster
Insider Tip: You can use several free lockers at the attractions. So be sure to use one for each park ticket that you have if you have a lot of stuff!
What Rides Require Lockers at Universal Studios?
There are 3 rides where you are not allowed to bring in any loose items at all, including fanny packs or phones. The attractions where you must store your items in a locker are:
- The Incredible Hulk Coaster
- Jurassic World VelociCoaster
- Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit
You will pass through a metal detector in the ride line to make sure that you have secured all of your personal items.
The VelociCoaster lockers are located mid-way in the line, so you can use your phone and keep drinks for a little bit while waiting.
Are There Lockers for the Water Rides?
There are lockers available next to Universal Studios water rides, however they are not free. You will need to pay a fee to use them and keep your belongings dry.
Lockers are available at these rides:
- Jurassic Park River Adventure
- Popeye & Pluto’s Bilge-Rat Barges
- Dudley Do-Rights Ripsaw Falls
Can I Use the Lockers All Day?
If you are paying for a large locker, you will have unlimited use of the locker all day long.
This is great if you want to bring food inside Universal Studios to save on meal costs.
Be sure to see our great snack ideas for the theme parks to bring with you.
The free, small lockers at each ride are only to be used while you are on the attraction. They are considered single-use lockers.
How Do I Pay for Lockers?
Cash and credit cards are accepted for payment for the rental lockers in the theme parks.
At Volcano Bay, cash and credit cards are used for payment, in addition to your TapuTapu wearable device.
How Do I Open the Lockers?
Universal Studios lockers are operated by using a biometric scan of your fingerprint, or by scanning your ticket or annual pass.
You will not need a key to open the lockers.
Insider Tip: You can only open a free locker ONCE. If you re-open the locker to add more belongings, you will not be able to close it and keep that same locker. You will need to rescan your ticket for a different locker.
Will I Need a Printed Ticket to Use Universal Studios Lockers?
You will not need a paper printed ticket to use the lockers at Universal Studios. However, it is smart to have a paper ticket to save time and stress.
Paper tickets, as well as room keys from official Universal Orlando hotels (as long as your tickets are linked to your room stay) and annual pass cards, will open the lockers quickly and easily. You won’t need to speak with an attendant.
We suggest printing out your Universal Studios tickets (the hotel concierge can do it for you if you didn’t do it at home) and storing them in your bag or in a lanyard for Universal Studios.
If you have digital tickets, do not worry. You will have a bar code that can be scanned to open the lockers. However, you will need your phone to do so. Which means that you can’t store your phone inside the locker if you need your phone to open the locker.
The three rides where you are required to have no personal belongings on you will require you to use a paper ticket or paper barcode because you cannot even keep your phone on these.
Also, if you are low on battery or if you are using your phone will waiting in a very long line, your phone might die by the time you get back to the lockers. Then you won’t be able to easily get it open.
Locker attendants will have paper barcode slips that you can use instead of a printed paper ticket. However, it still involves talking with a persona and waiting which eats up a lot of time in your day.
***Get Discounted Universal Theme Park Tickets from
Get Away Today!***
We love this Official Universal Ticket Reseller for their customer service and money-saving tickets.
Are There Medical Lockers?
There are medical lockers located close to the loading area for rides so that you do not have to be separated from necessary medical equipment for too long.
Medical lockers, also called platform lockers, allow guests to put their medically-necessary items in the locker just before boarding a ride and remove them immediately after getting off of the ride.
Medical lockers are used for items such as:
- Epipens
- Inhalers
- Pumps
- Phone
Where are the Lockers at Volcano Bay Water Park?
Lockers are located in four locations at Volcano Bay:
- Rainforest Village (between Baku Puihi and Bambu)
- River Village (next to Whakawaiwai Eats)
- Wave Village (two locations – opposite Dancing Dragons Boar Bar and behind Waturi Marketplace)
- Outside of the water park entrance (we don’t know why you’d use these lockers instead of the ones inside and really suggest you don’t use them!)
How Much Are Lockers at Volcano Bay?
All of the Volcano Bay lockers come with a fee. There are no free lockers.
There are 3 sizes:
- Mini: $10 per day
- Regular: $16 per day
- Large: $20 per day
Lockers are part of the price of Volcano Bay Cabana Rentals and Premium Seating.
What Size Are the Lockers at Volcano Bay?
There are three different sizes of lockers at Volcano Bay water park:
- Mini (14 inches X 5.5 inches X 17.5 inches)
- Regular (16 inches X 12 inches X 16.9 inches)
- Family (13 inches X 12 inches X 16.9 inches)
Does Universal Studios Have Lockers for Luggage?
There are not large lockers made for storing luggage at Universal Studios Orlando. We suggest using these tips for storing luggage at Universal Studios.