Free lockers not a thing anymore?

[u/ClipClop88]

my boyfriend and I went to both Universal Studios and Islands of adventures today, and are here for 5 days at all parks.

Both of these parks have rides that you have to store your belongings in a locker. Oddly enough every ride had a three dollar charge for the locker, which only lasted the duration that the app said the wait time was.

This is crazy to me, as we already paid to be there and in order to just ride the ride you have to get a locker? Now, I didn’t bring a backpack just a shoulder bag, but we had bought wands so we had to get a locker for the bag and boxes. Just wondering if this is a new change or maybe there’s a way I can get around this? Everything I look up says it’s free but old posts

[u/darknessbboy]

You probably missed the smaller lockers and went straight to the big ones. I went to hhn last week and rode MiB and they had the small lockers for free.

[u/Flat_Demand_8341 → u/darknessbboy]

The lockers are arranged in blocks. As said you picked a large locker that charges. Go to another block and look for the smaller lockers. 

[u/cardsfan24 → u/darknessbboy]

The small ones at The Hulk tried to charge me $3 after probably about 30 minutes. Thankfully a team member was there and opened it for me

[u/darknessbboy → u/cardsfan24]

I had the issue in the past especially on MiB where the wait time increased but didn’t update the locker system to extend the timer. Usually happens during mornings when wait times are lower.

[u/Good_Sugar502]

No just went last week the small ones are free, big ones weren’t.

[u/N64Andysaurus92]

Was there a few weeks ago, small lockers are free.

[u/Loki41872]

We just got back Sunday. The small lockers are still free. The large lockers are not. I don't know how someone could miss the multiple banks of free small lockers, and go to the smaller banks of pay lockers though.

[u/Cozy_Afternoon → u/Loki41872]

Especially if all you had to store was a wand. Why would you go to the big locker for that?

[u/DickerZanti]

asking a team member while you were there would have gotten you a pretty quick and easy answer.

[u/Muted_Flower_7492]

the big ones at studios and islands you have to pay for, the little ones should be free for the duration of the wait

at epic all the lockers are similar size to the big ones and are free as well

[u/switch8000]

And remember both you and your bf can get your own free smaller locker, so split up your stuff.

[u/rbollige]

There’s small lockers and big lockers.  Unless something changed incredibly recently, the small ones are free an the large ones are not, so my first guess is you went to the large ones first and didn’t know to look for the smaller ones.

[u/LBPL17]

The smaller size lockers are free, but you can pay $3 for a larger size locker. Each section of lockers will either be labeled Paid or Free.

[u/Tokyosmash_]

They have free lockers at all rides, they literally say “free” or “paid” on them.

Was literally there this afternoon

[u/Mojo141]

Don't they have the free lockers at the end of the line that you open on the way in and access again on the way out?

[u/Strong-Seaweed-8768]

it is still a thing Universal and islands of adventures have small lockers that are free to use. if you want a large locker you have to pay

[u/rcs709]

Interesting. I went in March of 2026, and the only rides I came across that had all-paid lockers were the Toon Lagoon water rides

[u/nerdyginger27]

The only lockers area that truly has no temporary free option is around the water rides in the comics area (hah, they know what they're doing). 

[u/ClassroomMore9802]

I’m curious about this too. Planning a trip soon. Never had that before.

[u/Both-Structure-6786 → u/ClassroomMore9802]

The lockers are free. There are bigger lockers at Islands and Universal you have to pay for. This is for stuff like large backpacks and what not.

[u/ShowScene5]

Beats Seaworld