CONFIRMED: The Locker Rules You Need To Know About at Epic Universe

Before you set foot in Universal Epic Universe, there are some RULES you need to know.

Gate at Epic Universe

Of course, when we mention “rules,” you often think about guest behavior in the park and avoiding getting kicked out. But what about when we say “locker rules?” Yep, you’ll spot lockers a few different places in Epic Universe, and you may be REQUIRED to use them.

1. Loose items must go in lockers before three rides

If you’ve visited the other Universal Orlando parks in the past, this may not surprise you too much, but three rides in Epic Universe require you to put your belongings in a complimentary locker before you board. Those three rides? Monsters Unchained, Hiccup’s Wing Gliders, and Stardust Racers. For the rest of the attractions, you can take your bags with you.

Dark Universe Lockers

So what goes in the lockers? Backpacks, purses, sunglasses, hats, phones, wallets, loose change. Basically, anything you don’t want to lose while on the ride. However, there is one loophole for people who don’t want to use a locker…but more on that in a minute.

2. Lockers use facial recognition here

For those who’ve visited Universal Orlando in the past, you’ve likely used your park ticket to scan in and out of the lockers. In the other parks, if you don’t have a park ticket, they can even supply you with a piece of paper with a scannable code — you use that to open and close the locker, then keep it on your person while you ride. But in Epic Universe, the lockers all have facial recognition!

Using facial recognition

Universal has been moving over to a wider facial recognition system for all its Orlando parks, but Epic Universe was ready from the get-go. When you enter the park, they’ll scan your face with your park ticket, and then you can continue to use your face to open your lockers throughout the day. No paper ticket required!

3. Lockers are bigger than those in the other Universal parks

Perhaps the best news about the lockers in Epic Universe is that they’re larger than those in Universal Studios Florida and Universal Islands of Adventure. Those lockers were so small that some regular-sized backpacks couldn’t fit. The new Epic Universe lockers have more of a square shape, so they’re apt to fit more items.

Hiccup’s Wing Gliders Lockers

During our visits, we’ve even been able to combine two people’s belongings into one locker — that’s a big upgrade! In the past, if your items didn’t fit in the small lockers, you’d have to pay for a larger size to use.

4. One ride is stricter than the others

We mentioned earlier that three rides have lockers, but if you’re riding Stardust Racers during your visit, it takes the locker security to a new level. After you go through the lockers pre-boarding, you’ll be required to walk through a metal detector, much like at The Incredible Hulk Coaster or VelociCoaster.

Stardust Racers

This means you can’t even bring small items like your phone or your keys on the ride with you…even if they fit in your pockets! This ride has some serious forces and inversions, so these measures are just put in place for guest safety.

5. Larger lockers are available for an extra cost

For those who have more belongings than the average guest or for the people who want locker storage all day, there are lockers spread throughout the park to rent. And at the front of Epic Universe in Celestial Park, you can even find extra-large lockers big enough for backpacks, coolers, and suitcases.

Large lockers for rent near the front of the park

At our last check-in, medium lockers were $15 each and large lockers were $20 each. These prices may increase at any time, so keep that in mind when you budget.

6. For many rides, you can wear a fanny pack

Finally, we’ve got a little insider tip for you! For many Universal Orlando rides, you can wear a fanny pack WHILE you’re on the ride. If it can go securely around your waist and not interfere with the lap restraints for the ride, then they’ll allow you to bring it on and skip using the lockers.

Theme park essentials fanny pack

Note that this does NOT work for any rides where there are metal detectors. So in Epic Universe, you’d only be able to use this trick to skip the lockers at Monsters Unchained and at Hiccup’s Wing Gliders.

Hiccup’s Wing Gliders

If you know the locker expectations going into your Epic Universe day, things will go MUCH more smoothly for you. It’s not too hard to manage, you just have to plan in advance a bit!