Rides make parks like Universal a great place to be in, but the main concern of park owners, management, and staff is public safety. We researched everything you need to know about what to do with fanny packs and other personal belongings when visiting Universal.
Fanny packs and flip belts are convenient for carrying small personal belongings. They are allowed on rides at Universal, but other items like mobile phones, cameras, bags, backpacks, and purses are prohibited and must be checked and stowed in on-site lockers.
Theme parks have guidelines and protocols that you must follow to ensure public safety. We will go over the rules so you will have a smooth and fun trip at Universal. If you wish to find out more, continue reading.
Advantages Of A Fanny Pack
A fanny pack is allowed on rides, and it is advisable to bring one. Here are some of the reasons why:
- You can only bring what you need in your fanny pack, like cash and some personal items, but you'll be able to breeze through security checks.
- Unlike backpacks or bulkier bags subject to metal detectors and additional inspection, fanny packs are automatically allowed into the facility more often than not because the storage capacity is limited.
- You can avoid the locker areas and long queues altogether, especially during the weekends and holidays when there are more crowds.
- The park covers a large area, so you need to move easily with less weight. Having a fanny pack also allows you the use of both hands. You may picture yourself enjoying the rides most of the day, but realistically, a lot of it will be spent on your feet walking around and waiting in queues. Do yourself a huge favor and pack lightly.
- It is easier to lose things if you set them down and then get excited to go on the next ride. You are less likely to leave things by accident since your fanny pack is attached to you.
Universal Studios Bag Policy And Locker System
If you have been to other theme parks, you may have noticed that Universal is more strict and rigid regarding items allowed on rides. It may seem like a hassle but it is for the safety and protection of everyone.
Complimentary lockers are available for belongings like phones, small bags, loose items such as coins and keys, purses, and other materials not allowed on the ride. Backpacks, packages, and larger items can be left in bigger lockers for a fee.
Pre-paid lockers are located near water-themed rides, so you can store spare clothing and sensitive gadgets like laptops or camera equipment. They are single-entry use and charged by the hour.
If you are with family or in a group and have several bags that contain extra clothes, children's necessities, towels, and the like, an all-day locker would best suit your storage needs. They are located near the entrances.
You can return anytime to deposit or retrieve items. This way, you won't have to lug the baggage pieces around the park. Fees depend on the size of the locker you prefer.
Things You Can Bring At Universal
Various theme parks have their own set of rules regarding the things you can take with you. Here are the things you are allowed to bring to Universal:
Bottled Water And Snacks
The park offers a wide selection of restaurants and snack bars across the property that guests can enjoy. While this is the case, it is allowed to bring outside snacks, considering the restrictions.
You can bring bottled water to Universal Studios if it does not exceed 2 liters. Aside from this, snacks that do not require heating are also allowed.
Lanyards
A lanyard is a necklace-like strap used to display ID cards, badges, and other passes for identification. In theme parks, they function as ticket equivalents, so you do not have to line up for every ride to get one.
They are usually ordered and pre-paid to make your experience more convenient. Express passes considerably hastens the process of experiencing a ride, making your day hassle-free.
Aside from this, Universal offers several themed lanyards that feature the various series found in the park. Some examples include franchises from Harry Potter, Jurassic Park, and Transformers.
You can buy the lanyards inside the park, but it is ideal to order them online because it offers a more affordable price.
Smart Watch And Wristwatch
Since smartphones are not allowed on rides, smartwatches and wristwatches can be an alternative for you to tell the time. This is important when you make scheduled reservations on specific attractions.
Just be sure that they are firmly fitted around your wrist so they would not come off easily during incredibly intense rides.
Raincoat Or Poncho
A trip to Universal Studios would not be complete without a water park adventure. Several rides feature water surprises such as Volcano Bay, Popeye and Bluto's Blige-Rat Barges, and Jurassic Park: River Adventure.
That being said, if you ever intend to ride these attractions, having a raincoat or poncho with you will come in handy. They are relatively lightweight so they can easily fit inside your fanny pack.
Do not forget to bring towels and extra clothes just in case you get wet. A shoe covering might also be useful to prevent your shoes from getting soaked.
Soft-sided Cooler Bags
Cooler bags have insulating properties that keep your snacks and beverages cold for long periods.
Packing snacks and other food in a cooler bag is essential for a whole day trip to Universal. However, you should go with the soft-sided bag because hard-sided coolers are not allowed.
Ensure the receptacle does not exceed the recommended dimensions of 8.5 x 6 x 6 inches.
Aside From Fanny Packs, What Else Are Allowed On Rides?
The belongings you can carry on rides depend on which attraction you pick.
Some rides permit guests to bring backpacks, purses, sealed beverages and snacks, merch bags, and other personal effects, while others will not let anything, even a fanny pack, on board. The features of most rides would determine what items could be brought in or not.
Roller coasters such as VelociCoaster, Ripride Rocket, and The Hulk prohibit practically anything that can fall out of your pockets like keys and coins since they can endanger the riding public.
The same goes for cellphones, wallets, bags (even a fanny pack), and other materials that can be displaced from the rides and cause harm and injury.
In Closing
A fanny pack is an excellent way to carry personal belongings and small items at Universal since it is allowed on most rides. It is more advisable to bring a fanny pack than a backpack or larger bag. The next time you find yourself in a park, bring less and enjoy the experience more.
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